Health risk appraisal and safety belt use: Final report

Abstract

Health risk appraisal (HRA) programs for increasing claimed and observed safety belt use was studied. Evaluations were performed to determine differences in safety belt use characteristics of treatment and control groups in work settings and medical settings in four states. Information and recommendations from HRA help individuals identify modifiable health risks and provide recommendations for reducing certain health risks. Educational materials were developed in this study to supplement HRA programs on the subject of safety belts. The package, referred to as the Great American Habit Plan (GAHP), combined selected educational material and messages using the fundamentals of behavior change theory. The primary purpose of the GAHP was to increase the potential for HRA programs to effect positive changes in the safety belt use behavior of an individual. The study findings strongly support the hypothesis that HRA programs are capable of producing a positive behavior change related to the use of safety belts.