Using interactive virtual presence to support accurate installation of child restraints: Efficacy and parental perceptions |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA;2. College of Engineering, University of Florida, USA;3. Safe Kids Alabama, Children''s of Alabama, USA;1. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 3500 Transportation Research Plaza, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States;2. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, United States;1. Technische Universität Chemnitz, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany;2. BMW Group, 80788 München, Germany;1. Cambridge Resources International, United States;2. Department of Economics, Queen''s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada;3. Eastern Mediterranean University, Mersin 10, Turkey;1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA;2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA |
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| Abstract: | IntroductionChild restraint systems (car seats) reduce injury risk for young children involved in motor-vehicle crashes, but parents experience significant difficulty installing child restraints correctly. Installation by certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians yields more accurate installation, but is impractical for broad distribution. A potential solution is use of interactive virtual presence via smartphone application (app), which permits “hands on” teaching through simultaneous and remote joint exposure to 3-dimensional images.MethodIn two studies, we examined the efficacy of remote communication via interactive virtual presence to help parents install child restraints. Study 1 was conducted at existing car seat checkpoints and Study 2 at preschools/daycare centers. In both cases, existing installations were assessed by certified CPS technicians using an objective coding scheme. Participants then communicated with remotely-located certified CPS technicians via a smartphone app offering interactive virtual presence. Technicians instructed participants to install child restraints and then the installation was inspected by on-site technicians. Both before and after the remote interaction, participants completed questionnaires concerning perception of child restraints and child restraint installation, self-efficacy to install child restraints, and perceived risk of injury to children if they were in a crash.ResultsIn both studies, accuracy of child restraint installations improved following the remote interaction between participants and certified CPS technicians. Together, the two samples achieved a weighted average of 90% correct installations across a multi-point inspection. Both samples reported increased self-efficacy to install child restraints and altered perceptions about the accuracy of the child restraint installations in their vehicles.ConclusionsFindings support use of interactive virtual presence as a strategy to realize accurate installation of child restraints.Practical applicationsInteractive virtual presence between certified CPS technicians and the public via smartphone app has potential to improve proper child restraint installations broadly, including to vulnerable and underserved rural populations. |
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