HEALTH VISITORS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES IN CHILDHOOD ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Background The importance of the health visitor's role in childhood accident prevention has long been recognized, although previous work suggests that many health visitors are unsure of that role, feel inadequately prepared for it and recognize significant constraints on their accident prevention activity. The Health of the nation suggested that specific accident prevention activities should be undertaken by health visitors. This study aims to assess whether those activities are currently part of routine health visiting practice, as well as the attitudes towards accident prevention and knowledge of childhood accidental injury epidemiology. Method A postal questionnaire survey covering knowledge, attitudes and practices in accident prevention as well as personal characteristics was sent to all health visitors in Nottinghamshire, using the community unit trusts' list of employees as the sampling frame. Results A response rate of 88.5 per cent was obtained. The majority of health visitors were aware that accidental injuries are the most common cause of death in childhood above the age of one year. The majority of health visitors were also aware of the types of accident most likely to be fatal, and aware of the risk factors for childhood accidental injuries. Many health visitors held positive attitudes towards all accident prevention activities covered in the questionnaire. There was a positive correlation between attitude and knowledge scores (p < 0.01). There were some discrepancies between attitudes and current practices, particularly in the areas of teaching first aid to parents' groups and lobbying or campaigning on local safety issues. Conclusions Although many health visitors hold positive attitudes towards, and currently undertake many of the accident prevention activities suggested in the Health of the nation, there are areas where practice could be improved, such as giving advice about stockists of safety equipment including local loan schemes, undertaking first aid sessions in parents' groups and lobbying or campaigning on local safety issues.