Abstract
Abstract
Background
Injury is the leading cause of death among US children, with over 2700 deaths due to unintentional injuries among children aged
Objective
This study aimed to (1) design an IVR home safety program for parents of children aged
Methods
The prototype was developed using human-centered design principles. The team first identified key components for program content using existing research and theory. Qualitative data were then collected from EBPP provider interviews (n=5) and focus groups with parents (n=7) regarding implementation constraints, program content, barriers/facilitators for engagement, and feedback on the use of IVR. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the qualitative data. The initial prototype was then pilot tested with parents of children aged
Results
The IVR program addresses knowledge and skill enhancement in three key areas: (1) home safety hazard identification, (2) hazard removal/mitigation, and (3) parental supervision. Using surveillance data, we identified leading causes of unintentional injuries in the home environment among US children aged
Conclusions
Currently, home safety information is delivered in a didactic or pamphlet-driven format in most EBPPs, which is not ideal for behavior change. This IVR home safety program will provide unique benefits in training, including (1) real-world simulations, (2) hands-on learning, (3) a risk-free environment, and (4) IVR scenario-based assessment. This study provides support for the use of IVR in engaging parents in home safety education and presents considerations for future research.