3-year impact of a provincial choking prevention program

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Choking is a significant risk for pediatric aerodigestive foreign body ingestion.
• Effective choking prevention programs are crucial for reducing childhood injuries.
• Evaluating public health interventions is essential for optimizing strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a provincial choking prevention program (CPP) on pediatric aerodigestive foreign body (AFB) cases.
• To compare AFB incidence rates before and after the CPP implementation in Quebec.
• To analyze the program's impact at both the provincial and tertiary care center levels.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design comparing AFB incidence rates from 1997-1998 (pre-CPP) to 2000-2002 (post-CPP).
• Utilized data from Sainte-Justine Hospital (tertiary care center) and provincial statistics.
• Calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to determine program impact.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant change in AFB incidence was observed at Sainte-Justine Hospital (age-adjusted IRR 0.92, 95% CI 0.79-1.07).
• Provincial AFB incidence rates showed a slight, statistically significant increase post-program implementation (age-adjusted IRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.25).
• The CPP did not demonstrate a clear reduction in pediatric aerodigestive foreign body cases.

Conclusions:

• Current choking prevention program strategies in Quebec require modification to effectively influence prevention habits.
• Further research and campaign adjustments are necessary to improve the impact of public health initiatives on choking prevention.
• The findings highlight the need for targeted and potentially revised approaches to reduce pediatric aerodigestive foreign body injuries.