@article{ref1,
title="Using interactive virtual presence to support accurate installation of child restraints: efficacy and parental perceptions",
journal="Journal of safety research",
year="2017",
author="Schwebel, David C. and Tillman, M. Alison and Crew, Marie and Muller, Matthew and Johnston, Anna",
volume="62",
number="",
pages="235-243",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Child restraint systems (car seats) reduce injury risk for young children involved in motor-vehicle crashes, but parents experience significant difficulty installing child restraints correctly. Installation by certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians yields more accurate installation, but is impractical for broad distribution. A potential solution is use of interactive virtual presence via smartphone application (app), which permits &quot;hands on&quot; teaching through simultaneous and remote joint exposure to 3-dimensional images. <br><br>METHOD: In two studies, we examined the efficacy of remote communication via interactive virtual presence to help parents install child restraints. Study 1 was conducted at existing car seat checkpoints and Study 2 at preschools/daycare centers. In both cases, existing installations were assessed by certified CPS technicians using an objective coding scheme. Participants then communicated with remotely-located certified CPS technicians via a smartphone app offering interactive virtual presence. Technicians instructed participants to install child restraints and then the installation was inspected by on-site technicians. Both before and after the remote interaction, participants completed questionnaires concerning perception of child restraints and child restraint installation, self-efficacy to install child restraints, and perceived risk of injury to children if they were in a crash. <br><br>RESULTS: In both studies, accuracy of child restraint installations improved following the remote interaction between participants and certified CPS technicians. Together, the two samples achieved a weighted average of 90% correct installations across a multi-point inspection. Both samples reported increased self-efficacy to install child restraints and altered perceptions about the accuracy of the child restraint installations in their vehicles. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Findings support use of interactive virtual presence as a strategy to realize accurate installation of child restraints. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Interactive virtual presence between certified CPS technicians and the public via smartphone app has potential to improve proper child restraint installations broadly, including to vulnerable and underserved rural populations.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4375",
doi="10.1016/j.jsr.2017.06.018",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2017.06.018"
}