Disparities in Child Welfare Referrals for Patients Seen in a Pediatric Emergency Department for Unintentional Ingestions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of patients visiting the pediatric emergency department (PED) for unintentional ingestions and associations between patient race and ethnicity in referrals to Child Protective Services (CPS) for supervisory neglect. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of children <12 years old who presented to the PED between October 2015 and December 2020 for an unintentional ingestion. Patients were identified by searching the electronic health record for diagnosis codes corresponding to unintentional ingestions. Patient demographics, ingestion type, disposition, and referrals to CPS were abstracted by manual chart review. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between patient demographics and visit characteristics with referral to CPS. RESULTS: We identified 129 PED encounters for unintentional ingestions that were included for analysis. Overall, 22 patients (17.1%) were referred to CPS for neglect. In the univariate analysis, both ingestion of an illicit drug and arrival to the PED by ambulance were associated with a higher odds of referral to CPS. In the multivariable model adjusted for parent language, ingestion type, and mode of arrival to the PED, Hispanic patients had higher odds of referral to CPS than White patients (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 17.2, 95% confidence intervals [1.8-162.3], P = .03). There was not a statistically significant association between Black race and referral to CPS. CONCLUSIONS: Referrals to CPS from the PED after unintentional ingestions are common and disproportionally involve Hispanic patients. More research is needed to promote equitable child maltreatment reporting for children presenting to the PED following unintentional ingestions.

Ease of Use ratings and real-world child restraint system errors from Safe Kids Illinois seat checks, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: Child restraint systems (CRSs) significantly reduce risk of crash-related injury, however installation and use errors undermine their benefits. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created the Ease of Use (EOU) rating system to help guide consumers and incentivize manufacturers to improve their products. The EOU rating system assigns one to five stars to four CRS features and overall. Our study assessed the relationship between EOU ratings and CRS installation and use errors documented in seat checks conducted by child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs). METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from Safe Kids Illinois seat check records from 2015 through 2019 and EOU ratings from 2008 to 2020. Five types of errors were documented by CPSTs. Study authors (JYL and MLM) used a tiered system to match seat check model numbers to EOU ratings. We calculated chi-square statistics and performed logistic regression analyses to assess for EOU as a predictor of relevant CRS errors (e.g., tether errors for forward-facing CRSs). RESULTS: Our analyses included 2132 seat check observations, of which 217 (10.2%) were exact, 244 (10.5%) were probable, and 1671 (78.4%) were near matches via sorting and web search. Errors were most common for seat belts (70.7%) and least common for recline angle (36.9%). Star ratings for instructions, vehicle installation, and labels were associated with recline angle and seat belt errors. Star ratings for instructions, labels, and securing child were associated with harness errors. CRSs with 4-star and 5-star ratings had lower odds of errors for recline angle (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.43, 0.89 and OR 0.31; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.56) lower anchors (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.40, 0.89 and OR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.68), and harness (OR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.76 and OR 0.19; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.35) when compared with 1 and 2-star CRSs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in support of NHTSA's EOU ratings as predictors of some CRS installation and use errors among caregivers who obtain seat checks. A higher star rating may be helpful for caregivers when choosing a CRS that will yield lower installation errors.

Child Pedestrian Safety.

The field of pedestrian safety has advanced with new evidence related to pediatric pedestrian education, the risks of distracted walking, the benefits of design and programming in safe routes to school, and the emergence of the "Vision Zero" strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. This statement is a revision of the 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement "Pedestrian Safety" and is accompanied by a technical report (www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2023-062508) providing additional detail to support recommendations. This statement is intended to assist practicing pediatricians to offer evidence-based advice to families about the benefits of active transportation and the specific risks and safety precautions to consider for child pedestrians at different ages. For community pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the statement provides an overview of specific programs and policies that, if implemented, could foster independent mobility for children while increasing pediatric pedestrian safety. This statement identifies trends in public health and urban design relevant to pedestrian safety.

Epidemiology and Prevention of Child Pedestrian Injury.

This report supports policy recommendations in the accompanying policy statement "Child Pedestrian Safety" (www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2023-62506). It reviews trends in public health and urban design relevant to pedestrian safety and provides information to assist practicing pediatricians discussing the benefits of active transportation and the specific risks and safety precautions to consider for child pedestrians at different ages. The report offers the evidence base for which programs and policies that, if implemented, could foster independent mobility for children while increasing pediatric pedestrian safety. Since the previous policy statement was published in 2009, the field of pedestrian safety has advanced with new evidence related to pediatric pedestrian education, the risks of distracted walking, the benefits of design and programming in safe routes to school, and the emergence of the "Vision Zero" public health and safety initiatives to prevent all serious and fatal transportation injuries.

Randomised feasibility trial of a virtual intervention to address infant car seat misuse.

BACKGROUND: Serious car seat installation errors occur at high rates in infants and children. These errors significantly increase the risk of child injury in a motor vehicle crash, and few interventions have addressed the challenge longitudinally. METHODS: This was a pilot randomised controlled feasibility trial of virtual car seat safety checks for caregivers of newborns recruited from an urban newborn nursery. The control (enhanced usual care (EUC)) group received an in-person car seat check as a newborn and virtual check at 9 months. The intervention group received two additional virtual checks at 3 and 6 months. Installation and infant positioning errors were documented and corrected by a child passenger safety technician (CPST). We measured feasibility and acceptability by tracking caregiver and CPST challenges, and caregiver retention. Group differences were tested for statistical significance using χ2 or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and two sample t-tests for continuous variables. RESULTS: 33 caregivers were randomised to the EUC and 28 to the intervention group. Virtual checks were feasible, with variable participation levels at each quarter. Wi-Fi and app challenges noted in 30%. There was satisfaction with the virtual car seat checks. At baseline, car seat installation and infant positioning errors occurred at equal frequency, and at 9 months the intervention group had a significantly lower mean proportion than the EUC group in all categories of errors. In summary, virtual seat checks are feasible and the optimal timing of repeat checks requires additional study. A larger study is needed to further evaluate the effect of longitudinal virtual checks on errors.

Racial and incident discrepancies in news media reporting of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).

BACKGROUND: Regardless of injury prevention and outreach efforts, there continue to be low rates of adherence with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations. Media is an important tool for parental education and may influence risk perception and caregiver choices. Due to media reports potentially serving as an opportunity for shaping social norms, caregiver education and injury prevention, an evaluation was undertaken to evaluate Georgia local news reporting of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) as compared to drownings, homicides, and firearm injuries. Our objective was to evaluate incident and racial discrepancies in Georgia news media reporting of SUID as compared to other pediatric injury deaths. RESULTS: Despite its high incidence, SUID was far less commonly mentioned in the news media, with only 1.9% (10/525) mentioned as compared to 8.1% of drownings (17/211), 11.4% (74/649) of MVC's, 14.7% (59/402) of homicides between ages 1-18, 20% (11/55) of fire-related deaths and 25% (15/59) of homicides under age one (infant homicides). Across SUID and homicide, deaths of White infants were reported in the news media at 2.5 times the rate of Black infants. CONCLUSION: Despite SUID being a leading cause of infant death, it is infrequently mentioned in the news media. When mentioned, the news media are more likely to highlight the deaths of White infants as compared to Black infants, though the incidence rate of SUID is higher in Black infants as compared to White.

Adequacy of Emergency Department Documentation of Child Restraint Use After a Motor Vehicle Crash.

OBJECTIVES: There are limited data on how often providers collect and document adequate restraint information in children seen in the emergency department (ED) after motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). The objectives of this study are to determine (1) how often adequate child restraint information to determine age-appropriate use is documented after MVC; (2) the frequency of incorrect use of the child restraint when adequate details are documented; and (3) for those discharged from the ED with identified incorrect use, the frequency of provision of information on child passenger safety (CPS). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of visits of children younger than 13 years with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code for MVC to an urban, academic, level 1 pediatric trauma center, from October 2015 to September 2018. Adequate documentation of child restraint use was defined as identification of location of the child in the car (front vs rear row), type of restraint used, and forward or rear facing for children 24 months or younger. RESULTS: A total of 165 visits qualified for inclusion. There was adequate documentation in 46% of visits. Of those, incorrect child restraint use was identified in 49%. Of discharged patients with incorrect use, 10% had documentation of provision of CPS information. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate details to determine proper age-appropriate restraint use are documented in only half of ED visits for MVC. Very few are given CPS instructions on discharge, even when incorrect use has been identified. Identification of incorrect restraint use in the ED is an opportunity for a teachable moment that is being underused.

American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for the Prevention of Pediatric ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries.

Since all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were introduced in the mid-1970s, regulatory agencies, injury prevention researchers, and pediatricians have documented their dangers to youth. Major risk factors, crash mechanisms, and injury patterns for children and adolescents have been well characterized. Despite this knowledge, preventing pediatric ATV-related deaths and injuries has proven difficult and has had limited success. This policy statement broadly summarizes key background information and provides detailed recommendations based on best practices. These recommendations are designed to provide all stakeholders with strategies that can be used to reduce the number of pediatric deaths and injuries resulting from youth riding on ATVs.

"Tiny Cargo, Big Deal! Abróchame Bien, Cuídame Bien", an emergency department-based intervention to promote child passenger safety: Protocol for an adaptive randomized trial among caregivers of 6-month through 10-year-old children.

BACKGROUND: Motor vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among children in the United States despite the proven effectiveness of child restraint systems (CRS). Laws and public education campaigns have fallen short of ensuring child passenger safety guideline adherence (i.e., correct use of a size-appropriate CRS in the back seat on every trip) across the population. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of Tiny Cargo, Big Deal!/Abróchame Bien, Cuídame Bien (TCBD/ABCB), a precision prevention intervention, grounded in Self-Determination Theory, that integrates motivational interviewing and tailored eHealth components to promote child passenger safety guideline adherence over the course of one year. Using in-person and remote recruitment, we seek to enroll 900 English or Spanish-speaking adult caregivers of children 6 months to 10 years of age who sought emergency or urgent care and screened non-adherent to child passenger safety guidelines. Eligible caregivers provide informed consent and complete a baseline assessment before randomization. At 6 months, only intervention group participants who remain non-adherent are re-randomized to standard or enhanced intervention. We assess caregiver-submitted photographs throughout the year using the Child Passenger Safety Score and provide personalized feedback. The primary outcome of guideline adherence is assessed at 12-months. The trial has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04238247. IMPLICATIONS: We hypothesize TCBD/ABCB will be more efficacious than enhanced usual care for promoting guideline adherence at 12-month follow-up. The intervention is expected to benefit children in families who have not responded to legal requirements and population-based strategies for child passenger safety.

Urban and Rural Child Deaths from Motor Vehicle Crashes: United States, 2015-2019.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine child deaths in motor vehicle crashes by rurality, restraint use, and state child passenger restraint laws. STUDY DESIGN: 2015-2019 Fatality Analysis Reporting System data were analyzed to determine deaths and rates by passenger and crash characteristics. Optimal restraint use was defined using age and the type of the restraint according to child passenger safety recommendations. RESULTS: Death rates per 100 000 population were highest for non-Hispanic Black (1.96; [1.84, 2.07]) and American Indian or Alaska Native children (2.67; [2.14, 3.20]) and lowest for Asian or Pacific Islander children (0.57; [0.47, 0.67]). Death rates increased with rurality with the lowest rate (0.88; [0.84, 0.92]) in the most urban counties and the highest rate (4.47; [3.88, 5.06]) in the most rural counties. Children who were not optimally restrained had higher deaths rates than optimally restrained children (0.84; [0.81, 0.87] vs 0.44; [0.42, 0.46], respectively). The death rate was higher in counties where states only required child passenger restraint use for passengers aged ≤6 years (1.64; [1.50, 1.78]) than that in those requiring child passenger restraint use for passengers aged ≤7 or ≤8 years (1.06; [1.01, 1.12]). CONCLUSIONS: Proper restraint use and extending the ages covered by child passenger restraint laws reduce the risk for child crash deaths. Additionally, racial and geographic disparities in crash deaths were identified, especially among Black and Hispanic children in rural areas. Decision makers can consider extending the ages covered by child passenger restraint laws until at least age 9 to increase proper child restraint use and reduce crash injuries and deaths.

Ride-Share Use and Child Passenger Safety Behaviors: An Online Survey of Parents.

OBJECTIVE: Ride-share services are increasingly used for transportation, but little is known about ride-share use and passenger safety behaviors among parents of children for whom child restraint systems (CRS) are recommended. Our objectives were to characterize ride-share use with children and examine passenger restraint use in ride-share. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, distributed to the TurkPrime Parent Panel using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), was designed to assess ride-share and passenger safety behaviors. After screening, adult parents of minor children were invited to complete the full survey about transportation behaviors. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were calculated. Logistic regression was conducted to test for characteristics associated with suboptimal restraint use in ride-share. RESULTS: Of 655 screened parents, 162 had no minor children, 43 had incomplete responses or failed an attention check question. Of 450 parents with minor children, 309 (68.7%) used ride-share in the past year and 73.1% of parents who use ride-share did so with their child(ren). Ride-share use with children was most common on vacation. Among parents of children age ≤8 years, 49% reported always using their child's CRS when traveling in ride-share. Suboptimal restraint use in rideshare was associated with child age (3-8 years compared with <3 years), larger family size, and attitudes and behaviors that tolerate suboptimal CRS use. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies an opportunity to promote use of CRS in ride-share services. Child passenger safety messaging, education, policy, enforcement of legislation, and CRS design will need to be adapted as ride-share services become more widely adopted.

So much nuance: A qualitative analysis of parental perspectives on child passenger safety.

OBJECTIVE: To explore barriers and facilitators to optimal child restraint system (CRS) use for diverse parents of newborn infants and to obtain input from parents on the use of technology-assisted remote car seat checks as tools for promoting optimal CRS use. METHODS: Parents were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted with English- or Spanish-speaking parents with a full term newborn and regular access to a car. Interviews were conducted by phone, and recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached. Data were organized for analysis using Atlas.ti, and codes grouped by theme using constant comparison. RESULTS: 30 parents were enrolled. Barriers and facilitators to optimal CRS use were classified into three themes, as were thoughts on the pros and cons regarding remote car seat checks. Themes on barriers and facilitators included motor vehicle and CRS features (such as age and size of the motor vehicle and presence of the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children LATCH system), resources (availability, accessibility, and accuracy of resources), and parental factors (parental emotions and characteristics). Themes related to pros and cons of remote car seat checks included the ability (and challenge) of remote car seat checks to identify and correct errors, the potential use of remote car seat checks in certain situations (such as CRS transitions and periods of growth), and convenience of remote car seat checks (including increased availability and ease of access). Subthemes with further detail were arranged within each theme identified. CONCLUSION: From a parent perspective, there are several identified barriers and facilitators of optimal CRS use. Although car seat checks were identified as a resource, in-person accessibility was an issue, and there were mixed opinions on technology-assisted remote car seat checks. These results provide a foundation for additional study on targeted interventions, including remote interventions for which there is an increased need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Adapted Child Safety Seat Hassles Score Is Associated With Suboptimal Child Passenger Safety Behaviors Among Parents.

OBJECTIVE: We modified the Child Safety Seat (CSS) Hassles Scale to characterize CSS hassles in a diverse population and test for associations between hassles and caregiver-reported child passenger safety behaviors. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a 2-site survey of caregivers seeking emergency care for their ≤10-year-old child in 2015. Caregivers answered questions regarding CSS hassles, child passenger safety behaviors, and demographics. Size-appropriate restraint use was defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2011 Guidelines for Child Passenger Safety. We tested for associations between the number of hassles and adherence to AAP guidelines (including the consistent use of a size-appropriate CSS, travel in a back seat, and never traveling unrestrained). RESULTS: There were 238 caregivers included in analyses. Overall, caregivers endorsed a median of 5 hassles (interquartile range 2, 8). Half (50.8%) of caregivers endorsed child passenger safety behaviors that were nonadherent to AAP guidelines. Compared with caregivers reporting no hassles, there was an increased odds of not adhering to AAP child passenger safety guidelines for each additional hassle reported (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 1.19). In addition, a higher number of hassles was associated with the inconsistent use of a size-appropriate CSS (aOR 1.15; 95% CI 1.06, 1.25) and as sometimes traveling unrestrained (aOR 1.13; 95% CI 1.03, 1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers who reported more CSS hassles were more likely to report behaviors that were not adherent to AAP guidelines. Addressing CSS hassles may provide solutions for nonadherence of AAP child passenger safety guidelines.

Virtual car seat checks during a pandemic.

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of death and morbidity in children and young adults in the USA, and suboptimal child restraint use is an important risk factor for severe childhood injury and death. The restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have presented unique challenges to the public health community, including how to use certified child passenger safety technicians through car seat checks. This case series assessed the feasibility of performing remote car seat checks and parental satisfaction with them. It provides preliminary evidence that remote car seat checks are feasible in a real-world environment and acceptable to caregivers during times in which in-person car seat checks are not safe or accessible.

Exploration of the Influential Factors on Adherence to Occupational Therapy in Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of permanent disability in children. Occupational therapists serve a primary role in the rehabilitation of children with CP. Poor adherence to treatment is common. The aim of this study is to explore the viewpoint of occupational therapists on factors which impact adherence to occupational therapy (OT) interventions among parents of children with CP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews were employed. Our participants were recruited by purposive sampling among occupational therapists who were working in Kermanshah province, western Iran. The interviews were taped and transcribed. Content analysis using constant comparison was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of our participants was 34.23±7.50. Four main categories with specific subcategories emerged as important in affecting adherence. The first category of child and family-related factors described factors such as the clinical status of the child and family composition. These factors had the potential for both improving and reducing adherence to treatment. The second category of therapist-related factors described the effect of appropriate professional skills of the therapist on improving adherence and included clinical competency, communication skills, and job satisfaction. The third category of environmental factors addressed factors such as cultural views of child disability and access to OT interventions. The category mostly emphasized environmental barriers to adherence to treatment. The fourth category of therapy-related factors described barriers such as the type of therapy, and the length of treatment. CONCLUSION: Adherence to OT interventions in parents of children with CP can be influenced by several factors. These factors range from child and family-related factors to therapy-related factors and have the potential for both positively and negatively affecting adherence. Programs to improve adherence should address these factors together.

Examining a Statewide Educational Consulting Program for Pediatric Brain Injury.

This study describes characteristics of students with acquired brain injury enrolled in a statewide educational consultation program and the program's support activities. Utilizing deidentified data from a statewide brain injury school consultation program, descriptive analyses of demographic and injury characteristics, including medical diagnosis (concussion/mild traumatic brain injury [TBI], moderate-severe TBI, and non-TBI), referral characteristics, educational placement, and the types of program activities were undertaken. 70% of students were referred for concussions/mild TBI and students were infrequently referred by medical professionals. Most students with concussion/mild TBI experienced recreational injuries (59%), while students with moderate/severe TBI commonly experienced road traffic injuries (48%). The greatest proportion of program team members' time was spent in consultation with school personnel (24%), communication with families (20%), and communication with school personnel (16%). Results suggest that the program addresses important communication and coordination needs among families, medical professionals, and educators and identifies opportunities to enhance program utilization.