Related Experiment Videos
Translation of an evidence-based tailored childhood injury prevention program
Nancy L Weaver1, Janice Williams, Heather A Jacobsen
1Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. weavernl@slu.edu
Insights
This study adapted the Safe n' Sound computer program to reduce childhood injuries for use in general clinics. The evidence-based approach provides tailored safety information to parents and healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury prevention
- Public health informatics
- Health services research
Background:
- Unintentional childhood injuries are a leading cause of death for children over one year old in the US.
- The Safe n' Sound program is an evidence-based, computer-delivered intervention designed to mitigate these risks.
- Existing efficacy-tested versions require adaptation for broader clinical implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To translate the Safe n' Sound program into a stand-alone application suitable for general clinic environments.
- To enhance accessibility and reach for parents and healthcare providers regarding childhood injury prevention.
- To evaluate the feasibility and success factors of implementing a digital health tool in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an organizational assessment to understand clinic staff needs and implementation feasibility.
- Modified the program by reducing length, prioritizing key risk areas (burns, falls, poisoning, drowning, suffocation, choking, car safety), and updating content.
- Repackaged the application to minimize cost and space requirements, and developed supporting promotional and instructional materials.
Main Results:
- Successful translation of the Safe n' Sound program into a clinic-ready, stand-alone application.
- Implementation facilitated by strong collaborative partnerships, the program's relative advantage over traditional methods, its adaptable design, and clinic staff support.
- Identified key factors contributing to successful program adoption and dissemination in a general clinical setting.
Conclusions:
- The adapted Safe n' Sound program offers a viable, scalable solution for childhood injury prevention in general clinics.
- Digital health interventions can be effectively translated and implemented with careful planning and stakeholder engagement.
- Further work should address identified challenges and explore long-term impact and sustainability.
Abstract:
This article describes the process of translating Safe n' Sound, a computer-based program for parents of young children, for a general clinic environment. Safe n' Sound is designed to reduce the risk of unintentional childhood injuries, the leading cause of death among children older than 1 year in the United States. The evidence-based program produces tailored information for parents and their healthcare provider about burns, falls, poisoning, drowning, suffocations, choking prevention, and car safety. To offer Safe n' Sound to a broader audience, we translated the program from the form used for efficacy testing to a stand-alone application. Notable steps in this translation included (1) conducting an organizational assessment to determine the needs of the clinic staff and feasibility of implementation, (2) modifying the program to reduce length, prioritize risk areas, and update content, (3) repackaging the program to minimize cost and space requirements, and (4) developing promotional and instructional materials. Factors contributing to the success of this effort include strong collaborative partnerships, the relative advantage of Safe n' Sound over traditional materials, the modifiable design of the program, and the support of the clinic staff and providers. Challenges and areas for future work are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
Preventive Healthcare Services