Trauma Prevention
Conditions
Keywords
Texting and driving, Teenager and driving, Distracted Driving Campaign
Brief summary
The study will measure the effectiveness of a distracted driving campaign in the emergency department in teenagers, 15 to 18 years old, to determine if it changes their attitudes towards texting while driving. It will also assess previous knowledge and behaviors in this age group, regarding distracted driving and what educational tool (power point vs. videos vs. brochure) has the most impact changing the attitudes towards texting and driving.
Detailed description
Distracted driving is defined by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) as any activity that could withdraw a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. It includes, talking or texting on a cell phone, grooming, eating or drinking, changing radio stations, or talking to passengers. Of all these activities text messaging is by far the most alarming distraction because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. The NHTSA Research Note on distracted driving found that in 2011, 10% percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes. This research also showed that teens between 15 to 19 years old are currently the largest group with distracted driving affected crashes, with 21% percent of them getting distracted while using their cell phones. During the last few years, multiple public awareness campaigns have been launched in attempt to reduce this problem. These massive campaigns have included television, radio and internet campaigns, posters, billboards and brochures among others. Nevertheless, there are no studies assessing the success of these methods. The research project will use visual and verbal educational tools to engage this population in order to maximize the learning process. The project will include brochures, video presentations and power point presentations. The investigators intend to test a potentially new and effective way to teach our teenagers about the dangers of distracted driving. The project primary goal is to assess if a distracting driving campaign in the emergency department is effective in changing the attitudes towards texting while driving. The investigator also intends to assess the current knowledge about distracted driving and to determine which tool (visual vs. verbal) is most effective to deliver this message.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVideo
Real stories video presentation about distracted driving. Produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
BEHAVIORALPower Point
Brief power point presentation with information about distracted driving. Produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
BEHAVIORALBrochure
Brochure with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration information about distracting driving.
Sponsors
Nicklaus Children's Hospital f/k/a Miami Children's Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adolescents between the ages of 15 to 18 years
Exclusion criteria
* Adolescents refusing to participate in the Distracted Driving Campaign. * Adolescents visiting the emergency department with a chief complaint related to mental illness, suicide ideation or attempt, or any complaint limiting the ability to complete the questionnaire. * Adolescents with diagnosis of developmental delay that could affect his or her ability to complete the questionnaire. * Adolescents that do not speak English (the videos about real people who have had accidents while texting and driving found at http://www.distraction.gov/faces/index.html are available only in English.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Previous knowledge and attitudes towards distracted driving | 6 months | A Pre Campaign Survey will be given to every participant before the intervention. The survey is a validated questionnaire that assess previous knowledge and attitudes towards distracted driving and demographic variables. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Short Term Effectiveness of the Distracted Driving Campaign | 6 months | A validated post campaign survey will be given, to each participant, immediately after the intervention. The Post Campaign Survey 1 will assess the short term effectiveness of the campaign. |
| Long Term Effectiveness of the Distracted Driving Campaign | 6 months | A Post Campaign Survey 2 will be obtain by phone call, at least one month after the intervention is done, to assess long term effectiveness of the campaign. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed