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Evaluating Otto the Auto: Does Engagement in an Interactive Website Improve Young Children's Transportation Safety?

David C Schwebel1, Anna Johnston2, Jiabin Shen3,4

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Blvd, CH 415, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. schwebel@uab.edu.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|July 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The "Otto the Auto" website did not improve transportation safety knowledge in young children. Parental involvement showed a dosage effect, suggesting potential efficacy when used together.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric injury prevention
  • Childhood safety education
  • Digital health interventions

Background:

  • Transportation injuries are a primary cause of death in children.
  • Current interventions for pediatric transportation safety are limited.
  • Interactive websites offer a potential avenue for safety education.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Otto the Auto" website in improving transportation safety knowledge and behavior in preschoolers.
  • To assess the impact of website engagement on children's safety outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized parallel group design study involving 69 children aged 4-5 years.
  • Children were assigned to either the "Otto the Auto" website or a control website for 2 weeks.
  • Baseline and post-intervention evaluations assessed safety knowledge and behavior.

Main Results:

  • Children using "Otto the Auto" did not show significant improvements in transportation safety knowledge or behavior compared to the control group.
  • A dosage effect was observed: increased engagement with the website, particularly with parental involvement, correlated with safer behavior patterns.
  • No statistically significant difference in knowledge or behavior was found between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions:

  • The "Otto the Auto" website alone may not be sufficient for improving pediatric transportation safety.
  • Parental engagement appears crucial for enhancing the website's efficacy.
  • Further development of theory-driven, engaging digital strategies for childhood transportation safety education is warranted.

Keywords:
Otto the AutochildreneHealthinjury preventionmHealthtraffic safetytransportation safetywebsite

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