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Inj Prev 2007;13:93-99 doi:10.1136/ip.2006.013862
  • Original Article

“Risk Watch”: Cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating an injury prevention program

  1. Denise Kendrick1,
  2. Lindsay Groom1,
  3. Jane Stewart2,
  4. Michael Watson3,
  5. Caroline Mulvaney2,
  6. Rebecca Casterton4
  1. 1Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
  2. 2The Nottingham Primary Care Research Partnership, Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust, Hucknall Health Centre, Hucknall, Nottingham, UK
  3. 3School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
  4. 4Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Arnold, Nottingham, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 DrDenise Kendrick
  • Accepted 5 December 2006
  • Revised 29 November 2006

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based injury prevention program.

Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting: 20 primary schools in Nottingham, UK.

Participants: 459 children aged 7 to 10 years.

Intervention: The “Risk Watch” program delivered by teachers, aimed at improving bike and pedestrian, falls, poisoning and fire and burns safety.

Main outcome measures: Safety knowledge, observed safety skills and self-reported safety behaviour.

Results: At follow-up, intervention group children correctly answered more fire and burn prevention knowledge questions than control group children (difference between means 7.0% (95% CI 1.5% to12.6%)). Children in intervention group schools were more likely to know the correct actions to take if clothes catch fire and the correct way to wear a cycle helmet (difference between school means 35.3% (95% CI 22.7% to 47.9%) and 6.3% (95% CI 1.4% to 11.1%) respectively). They were also more likely to know the correct actions to take in a house fire and on finding tablets (OR 2.80 (95% CI 1.08 to 7.22) and OR 3.50 (95% CI 1.18 to 10.38) respectively) and correctly demonstrated more safety skills than control group children (difference between means 11.9% (95% CI 1.4% to 22.5%)). There was little evidence to suggest the first year of the program impacted on self-reported safety behaviours.

Conclusions: The Risk Watch program delivered by teachers in primary schools increased some aspects of children’s safety knowledge and skills and primary schools should consider delivering this program. Longer term, larger scale evaluations are required to examine retention of knowledge and skills and impact on safety behaviours and child injury rates.

Footnotes

  • Funding: The trial was funded by the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, UK. DK was funded through a Public Health Career Scientist Award from the Department of Health, UK. JS, LG and CM were funded through the Nottingham Primary Care Research Partnership, funded by the Department of Health, UK.

  • Competing Interests: None.

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