Bicycle helmet use among American children, 1994.

Abstract

Objective-To estimate ownership and use of bicycle helmets among children in the US in 1994.

Bicycle helmet use among children in the United States: The effects of legislation, personal and household factors

“…Log-likelihood chisquare tests were performed on weighted percentages to test the association between selected household and child characteristics and children's bicycle helmet wearing behavior in the past 30 days. We used a standard t-test to examine differences in helmet wearing behavior reported in ICARIS-2 with those reported in a 1994 study (ICARIS-1), in which the same questions were asked using similar methodology (Sacks et al, 1996). Finally, we conducted multivariable logistic regression modeling using the 2-level outcome variable and compared children who wore their helmet less than always to those who always wore a helmet when riding in the 30 days prior to interview (referent group) among several demographic subgroups, adjusting for other demographic characteristics.…”

“…This paper compares children's helmet use to that estimated from an earlier study (Sacks, Kresnow, Houston, & Russell, 1996), and explores regional differences in helmet use by existing helmet legislation.…”

Measuring community bicycle helmet use among children

“…If we assume that initial helmet use is 25% and that a 15% change in helmet use (e.g., an increase to 40% helmet use) is required to reflect a meaningful difference with an alpha ϭ 0.05 and power ϭ 0.8, then 165 observations must be made using a one-tailed approach, or 203 observations, using a more conservative, two-tailed approach (PASS 6.0, NCSS, 329 North 1000 East, Kaysville, UT 84037). 6 These sample sizes are ordinarily sufficient to allow crude and stratified analysis. Enough children should be observed so that the stratified analysis is stable, meaning that a few riders wearing or not wearing helmets in that strata do not change the conclusions.…”

“…For example, a 1994 telephone survey of adults reporting helmet use by their children indicated that 25% of children 5-14 years of age "always" wore their helmets, yet a similar 1998 telephone survey indicated that about 69% of children "generally" wore their helmets, defined as wearing a helmet "more than half the time," "nearly always," or "always." 1,6 We recommend the conservative approach, defining use as "always use" and defining non-use as all other categories. We accept the premise that self-reported use overestimates observed use, as described below.…”

“…5 Market forces have made helmets widely available for purchase for under $10, yet only about 50% of US children between 5 and 14 years old own a helmet, and only 25% report always wearing it while bicycling. 6 Because children and teens have higher bicyclerelated mortality and injury rates than any other age group, many bicycle helmet promotion programs target this age group. 2,3 Intervention programs include, singly or in combination, elements of public education and information, school education, helmet giveaway or discount programs, and state laws, local ordinances, or school policies that mandate helmet use.…”