School-based scalds prevention: reaching children and their families

• Published in: Health education research Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 191 - 202
• Main Authors: Harré, Niki, Coveney, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-04-2000; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Behavior Change; Burns; Burns - prevention & control; Child; Community Programs; Community Relations; Elementary School Students; Elementary schools; Ethnic Groups; Family Environment; Family Health; Female; Health Education - methods; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health technology assessment; Humans; Injuries; Low Income Groups; Male; Minority Groups; New Zealand; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Parents; Pilot Projects; Prevention; Resistance (Psychology); Scalding; School Health Services; School Nurses; Social Support Groups; Students; Teaching Materials; Young Children; New Zealand
• ISSN: 0268-1153; 1465-3648
• DOI: 10.1093/her/15.2.191

Preventing children's thermal injuries requires changes to both the home environment and the behaviour of family members. Two pilot studies were undertaken of a school-based programme that taught children aged 7–11 years about burns and scalds hazards, and encouraged changes to the home environment and family practices through a take-home exercise. Both studies took place at ethnically diverse schools from low/middle-income areas of Waitakere City, New Zealand. Study 1 involved 55 children who received the programme, and Study 2 involved 64 children who received the programme and 71 children from a control school. The children's ability to identify the burns and scalds hazards illustrated in a series of pictures was measured before and after the programme. Children who received the programme showed considerable improvement in hazard identification at the post-test, while children at the control school showed minimal improvement. The take-home exercise was completed by 85% of the children and their families in Study 1, and 61% of the participants from the intervention school in Study 2. In both studies families reported positive safety changes as a result of the programme. The programme appeared equally effective with all the ethnic groups involved. Future development of the programme is discussed.