Principal Investigator: Emma Sartin, PhD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

This study aims to: 1) determine how caregivers receive information about their car seat products (e.g., car seat installation), caregivers’ preferences on future communication of this information, and their knowledge and use of car seat technologies and installation methods; and 2) examine how differences in sources of information impact car seat knowledge and real-world behaviors and use.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT?

We know that disparities exist regarding who uses CRS appropriately (the best seat for a child’s developmental stage) and correctly (installed in the vehicle the way it should be). Yet, we don’t have a clear understanding of the factors driving these disparities. With this project, we wanted to investigate how sources of information, or where caregivers learn about child passenger safety (CPS) topics, may influence their appropriate CRS use.

HOW WAS THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED?

We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of 1,302 caregivers from 36 states about their CRS and booster seat use, as well as what information sources they thought were helpful in learning about CPS topics, such as their child’s primary care physician, child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs); a car seat manual; family or friends; and online content.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

It was heartening to see that the majority of (91%) of children were reported as appropriately restrained according to their age. However, we still noted disparities based on caregivers’ characteristics (education, race/ethnicity, income). Echoing previous studies, we found information sources were not related to whether children were correctly restrained. Despite this, more caregivers, especially those who identified as Black, Hispanic, with less education or younger, had their kids appropriately restrained if they learned about CPS from pediatricians or CPSTs. Notably, caregivers from marginalized groups may have had limited access to these sources when compared to others surveyed.

HOW ARE THESE RESULTS APPLICABLE TO INDUSTRY MEMBERS?

Together we can invest in more “boots on the ground” types of efforts to increase caregivers’ access to desired experts, like training trusted community members as CPSTs and making online CPS content as easy to understand and access as possible for all. Additional training for pediatricians in CPS best practice recommendations and the importance of communicating this knowledge to marginalized groups may also be valuable.

Co-Investigator

Julie Mansfield, PhD, The Ohio State University

IAB Mentors

Jonathan Gondek, Calspan Corporation; Emily Thomas, Consumer Reports; Mark LaPlante, Graco Children’s Products Inc.; Rochelle Orlando, Graco Children’s Products Inc.; Kelly Seagren, Graco Children’s Products Inc.; Susan Mostofizadeh, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Nick Rydberg, Minnesota HealthSolutions; Kyle Mason, Iron Mountains; Curt Hartenstine, Iron Mountains; Steve Gerhart, Nuna Baby Essentials, Inc.; Uwe Meissner, Technical Advisor