Safety Education Program Research Articles

Quality assessment of postgraduate safety education programs, current developments with examples of ten (post)graduate safety courses in Europe

Professionalization of safety is gaining some interest in international safety literature, including (post)graduate training and education of safety experts. Different from research, there are hardly any publications and discussions on the quality of (post) graduate safety education in the academic safety literature. This article starts with a short historical picture of safety education. After this picture, a description of the ten (post) graduate safety courses involved is presented with a special reference to the assessment of the quality of these courses. It shows that an internal evaluation of quality, like reactions from trainees, and results from examinations, and tests are presently the main quality indicators. Discussions on how quality assessment can be performed has led to an overview of literature on educational objectives and educational models, and possible options for this assessment. The article concludes that the transfer of safety knowledge and skills to companies and organizations is a highly desirable elaboration of the quality concept. But it is also clear that traditional safety indicators can provide no, or only unreliable, information about the degree of this transfer. An overview of possible minor and major accident scenarios of the company or organisation concerned might be a better option, combined with the activities of the trainee to influence and prevent activation of these scenarios.

115 Development of a statewide educational program for the Ohio 4-H horse program

Across the US, 4-H members enrolled in market livestock projects are required to participate in educational Quality Assurance (QA) programs which provide information on animal care, management, and safety. However, few 4-H programs have similar requirements for youth enrolled in horse projects. Without a QA or similar educational requirement, members may not receive appropriate project information, potentially decreasing the educational value of their experiences. The objectives of this study were to utilize stakeholder input to evaluate the need for a statewide educational program, identify important educational topics, and develop a standardized educational program to meet this need. An electronic survey was distributed to county 4-H educators and horse club advisors (n = 109) to evaluate the content and delivery method of information provided to members. Respondents represented 61 of 88 Ohio counties (69.3%). Only 53% of the respondents noted a requirement for annual in-person educational programming. Among counties represented by multiple respondents, 54% demonstrated conflicting responses to the same survey question. This inconsistency in programming across and within counties indicated a need for a statewide educational program. Survey participants were also asked to rank several educational topics in order of their importance. Simple statistics (mean ± SD) and consensus (A) analysis identified safety (1.48 ± 1.07; A = 0.73), handling (3.56 ± 1.64; A = 0.60), nutrition (4.27 ± 1.32; A = 0.60), and healthcare (4.27 ± 1.32; A = 0.67) as the most important topics for members. These topics were refined and included in a subsequent survey distributed to horse club advisors and parents (n = 188). Topics with a minimum rating of 4.5 and consensus (A) value of 0.60 were included in the new Equine Safety Training and Educational Program (EquiSTEP). The curriculum was presented to Ohio 4-H horse advisors (n = 157) for evaluation. Statements evaluating the program's effectiveness produced an average rating of ≥4.5 with a group consensus of A ≥0.60. Value statements produced an average rating of ≥4.0 with a group consensus of A ≥0.60. The program was made available to Ohio 4-H members as an optional curriculum in 2020. To date, 950 individuals have enrolled in EquiSTEP with 434 participants completing an optional 10-question summative assessment, scoring an average of 94%. EquiSTEP will become an annual requirement for all Ohio 4-H horse club members in 2023. This novel program can serve as a model for other 4-H equine programs without a QA component to provide consistency in curriculum for members, thus promoting youth success.

Evidence-based practices of effective fire safety education programming for children

School-based fire safety education programs are implemented by fire services organisations around the world to improve children’s fire safety knowledge and skills. Such education is considered the single most modifiable strategy that fire services organisations can implement to reduce the risk that children will misuse fire or be harmed by fire. Despite this, there are no overarching and evidence-based guidelines for the development of new programs or the evaluation and modification of existing ones. To fill this void, a rapid evidence assessment of existing literature was conducted. Results revealed 25 evidence-based practices that held true in a variety of contexts and methodologically diverse studies. These practices inform an empirical framework that can be used to guide fire safety education programs for children.

Assessment of Food Safety and Food Handling Practice Knowledge among College of Basic Education Students, Kuwait

The aim of this study is to assess the overall food safety knowledge of students at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait and to explore the relationship between their knowledge and demographic characteristics. A valid questionnaire was used that included 16 food handling practice (FHP) questions and 15 food safety knowledge (FSK) questions. Each question had one correct answer that was awarded a score of one point, while a score of zero was given for all incorrect answers. In addition, a passing percentage was calculated. A passing percentage is the percentage of participants who answered correctly ≥ 50% of the questions. A total of 585 students participated in the study (mean age = 21.3 ± 3.88 years). The results showed that the mean score of FHP was 7.56 ± 1.96 (47.2%), with the highest mean practices being using a paper towel to dry hands and washing hands before cooking or eating (91.5% and 90.1%, resp.). The lowest mean practices (5.3%) were checking the temperature of burgers followed by (6%) the way of defrosting meat. The mean score of FSK was 3.44 ± 2.00 (22.9%), with the highest mean knowledge (63.8%) being related to cleaning the kitchen counter. The lowest mean knowledge (6.8%) was related to the optimum growth temperature for the most disease-causing bacteria. The overall passing percentage of FHP was 55%, while it was 2.9% for FSK. The results obtained showed that the students with the highest FHP scores were generally female, aged ≥ 28 years, and single, and they cook by themselves all the time or sometimes ( p < 0.001 , p < 0.001 , p < 0.001 , and p = 0.004 , resp.). The students with the highest FSK scores were generally male and they cook by themselves all the time or sometimes ( p = 0.018 and p = 0.002 , resp.). In conclusion, the study showed that students had insufficient scores for FHP and FSK. Therefore, an effective food safety education programme is urgently needed.

Development and Effectiveness of a Patient Safety Education Program for Inpatients.

Background: Patient safety is considered an important issue in the field of healthcare, and most advanced countries. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate a patient safety education program among hospitalized patients. Of the 69 participants, 33 completed the patient safety education program while the 36 remaining participants were given educational booklets. The program was used to measure knowledge about patient safety, patient safety perception, and willingness to participate in patient safety. Methods: Patient safety education was developed by the analysis–design–development–implementation–evaluation model considering expert advice, patient needs, and an extensive literature review. Data were collected from 20 July to 13 November 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical program. The effectiveness of the experimental and control groups before and after education was analyzed using paired t-tests, and the difference in the amount of increase in the measured variables for each group was analyzed using independent t-tests. Results: The experimental group had significantly higher patient safety scores (t = 2.52, p = 0.014) and patient safety perception (t = 2.09, p = 0.040) than those of the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the willingness to participate in patient safety. Conclusion: The patient safety education program developed using mobile tablet PCs could be an effective tool to enhance patient involvement in preventing events that may threaten the safety of patients. Further studies are recommended to develop a variety of educational interventions to increase patient safety knowledge and perceptions of patients and caregivers.

Slow down! Get off that phone! The impact of a high school road safety education program in influencing whether a young person speaks up to a risky driver

Risky driving behaviours such as mobile phone use and speeding remain common among young people, thereby contributing to their over-representation in road crashes. There is much evidence that similar-aged peer passengers can have a negative impact on a young driver’s behaviour; however, there is also research that supports the positive influence that peer passengers can have when they speak up about risky behaviours. Road safety education programs, such as the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland’s (RACQ) Docudrama program, aim to help young people understand the important role they play as peer passengers and, thus, the importance of being willing to speak up to a driver who may be engaging in risky behaviours. Extending on a previous evaluation of the RACQ Docudrama program, the current study uses an Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour framework to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in influencing peer passengers’ intentions and self-reported behaviour in speaking up against risky driving behaviours, including mobile phone use and speeding. A repeated-measures design compared participants’ responses over 3 time-points: Time 1 (one month before participating in the program), Time 2 (immediately after having participated in the program), and Time 3 (three months after program participation). The results indicate that levels of anticipated regret for having not spoken up were higher following participation in the program suggesting that it encouraged young people to consider how they would feel if something was to happen and they, as passengers, had not tried to prevent it by speaking up. Three months after participating in the program, the majority of participants reported that they were positively influenced by the program in terms of engaging in safer behaviours as passengers; although the significant effects regarding improvements were observed only immediately after participating in the program. The implications of such findings are discussed in terms of the need for some type of ‘booster’ post-program participation to capitalise on the positive immediate effects that the program evokes.

Analysis of safety climate and individual factors affecting bus drivers’ crash involvement using a two-level logit model

Although traffic crashes involving buses are less frequent than those involving other vehicle types, the consequences of bus crashes are high due to the potential for multiple injuries and casualties. As driver error is a primary factor affecting bus crashes, driver safety education is one of the main countermeasures used to mitigate crash risk. In China, however, safety education is not as focused as it should be, largely due to the limited research identifying the specific driver behaviors, and potential influences on those behaviors, that are correlated with crashes. The aim of this study is, therefore, to explore the fleet- and driver-level risk factors underlying bus drivers’ self-reported crash involvement, including analyzing the effect of psychological distress on the most influential driver-level factors. A survey was conducted of 725 drivers from a large Shanghai bus company, and a random-effects two-level logit model was developed to integrate fleet and individual variables. Results showed that: 1) the fleet-level safety climate explained about 8.5% of the model’s variance, indicating it was a valid predictor of self-reported crash involvement; 2) the driver-level factors of drivers’ age, seniority, marital status, positive behavior, and driving anger influenced drivers’ self-reported crash involvement, but ordinary violations, lapses, aggressive violations, and insomnia were the most influential variables; 3) psychological distress appeared to associate with the high frequency of risky driving behavior and the high severity of driving anger. This study’s findings will help bus companies to give more attention to their safety climate and implement more targeted improvements to their driver safety education programs.

Young adult food safety knowledge gaps and perceptions of roommates’ food handling practices: A survey of university students in Indiana

A lack of safe food handling knowledge and practices can contribute to a higher risk of foodborne illnesses from meals prepared at home. Young adults, an important consumer group, can be at an increased risk for foodborne illness due to their risky food behaviors. This study surveyed university students, as examples of young adults, to identify food safety knowledge, reveal knowledge gaps, and explore perception change resulting from living with roommates. The survey included questions about food safety knowledge, self-efficacy of safe food handling practices, and participants' perceptions of their roommates' safe food handling capabilities. A total of 2678 students completed the survey. Gender, age, previous food safety training, college major, and ethnicity have a significant impact on students’ food safety knowledge. White (non-Hispanic) students had a higher knowledge score (7.68) than Asian (6.19) or Hispanic (6.57) students. Similarly, students in biology-focused majors had higher scores (7.78) than those not in biology-focused majors (7.11). Most students (65%) did not know that meat and poultry should not be washed under running water. Many students failed to practice food safety recommendations, such as using food thermometers, even if they knew it was the correct thing to do. Most students (57%) believed they did a better job of keeping the kitchen clean than their roommates (23%). As the number of roommates in the house increased, participants were 1.60 times more likely to believe that their kitchen would be in better condition if they did not have any roommates. Future food safety education programs should be developed to fill the knowledge gaps and address challenges facing young adults especially when living with roommates. Educators can create food safety materials for those who are entering university which will prepare them for ahead of time. Materials can also target current university students, those who are not in biology-focused majors, and those from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

A study for the evaluation of a safety education program me for nursing students: discussions using the QSEN safety competencies.

To respond to calls for improvements in nursing education in Japan, a group of faculties of a baccalaureate nursing programme has made an initial attempt to incorporate quality and safety education for nurses safety competency into three related courses, two sophomore level courses and one senior level course. To evaluate the learning experiences in a senior level course on medical safety in order to identify learning outcomes in terms of areas of strengths and areas for further improvements of the course and a system-wide implementation of quality and safety education for nurses competencies in the future. Fourteen students who met the criteria had volunteered to participate in one of the two 40-minute focus group interviews. During the interviews, participants were asked questions as to what they have learned and how they may use that knowledge in the future. The sessions were tape recorded, the data were transcribed and analysed using the content analysis method according to Berelson. Eight categories of learning related to medical safety were identified, including awareness of own risks for errors and plans to reduce such risks. These categories of learning were thought to have achieved the level equal to 75% of quality and safety education for nurses knowledge, skills and attitudes items. The current content and methods for this course identified strengths to be continued, with some areas of improvement for the future for further adoption of quality and safety education for nurses competencies into the entire curriculum.

Commentary: A study for the evaluation of a safety education program me for nursing students: discussions using the QSEN safety competencies.

Commentary: A study for the evaluation of a safety education program me for nursing students: discussions using the QSEN safety competencies.

Foodborne diseases risk factors associated with food safety knowledge and practices of women in Sharjah-United Arab Emirate

Foodborne diseases are a worldwide public health issue, as they are responsible for large cases of sickness, deaths, and high financial losses. The objective of the current study was to identify the knowledge, practices, and risk factors of women in Sharjah-United Arab Emirates that can lead to foodborne diseases. The study was a cross-sectional survey, a total of 656 respondents completed a food safety questionnaire from January until April 2020. The total score of food safety knowledge, practices, and risk factors of participants in Sharjah was good (57.4%). In “cross-contamination” and “recognizing of foodborne diseases” sections, the respondents showed a high scale of knowledge and practices (80.0%). The respondents had good knowledge of “food purchasing” (67.5%), “cleaning and personal hygiene” (62.9%), and “food storage” (61.1%) aspects. Even though they lack knowledge of “cooking and food consumption” (28.0%) and “risk factors of foodborne disease” (20.0%), this indicated that the respondents might be under risk of food poisoning. There was a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) link between overall food safety knowledge and practices of participants with employment status and educational levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore food safety knowledge, practices, and risk factors of women in Sharjah-United Arab Emirates that can lead to foodborne diseases. Design new food safety education programs for women and motivating women to participate in these programs is suggested.

A comparison of motorcycle instructor candidate selection practices in the United States

Introduction: An essential aspect of motorcycle rider education is how the instructor selection process impacts student learning, sometimes referred to as the human element, as it is a significant factor influencing curriculum success. Student and program achievements are partially contingent on instructors who understand the curriculum and facilitate student learning during instruction. Previous research on motorcycle rider education has emphasized a need for the examination of instructor selection and development, stating that quality education is reliant on instructors who are competent and qualified. Method: By applying an exploratory study method, state and military Motorcycle Safety Education Program Managers and Instructor Trainers were examined and compared through telephonic interviews to develop a greater understanding of instructor candidate selection criteria and vetting processes. Results: The results suggest that changes in instructor candidate selection systems may improve decisions about a candidate's job and organizational fit. Conclusions: Study conclusions indicate that use of multiple and thorough assessments to determine a candidate’s motivation, social disposition, and emotional intelligence before preparation courses may better identify candidates and align potential job and organization fit within the discipline. Practical Application: Applications of the findings would include a standardized selection process with improved interviews and pre-course auditing, and candidate expectation management before the selection to attend preparation or certification courses. The efforts potentially decrease long-term costs and deficiencies when candidates have an inconsistent job or organizational fit, departing from organizations after short periods or by not providing consistent quality instruction to students. The study recommendations, when implemented, can improve most educational disciplines where instructors are selected for technical instructional positions where students risk injury or harm.

It’s a Journey Not a Check Box: Indigenous Cultural Safety From Training to Transformation


 
 
 Indigenous Peoples in Canada continue to experience racism and discrimination when accessing health care. Competencies of health care staff urgently need to be improved through cultural safety education and training programs to inform culturally appropriate and safe care practice among care providers serving Indigenous individuals and families. This paper explores current educational strategies, the perspectives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous care providers on training approaches, and recommendations for improving training. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 participants to explore the current provision of culturally appropriate and safe care. Interviews were voice recorded and transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was completed. The three key themes related to training that emerged from data analysis were (a) addressing the knowledge gaps, (b) challenges of current training approaches, and (c) recommendations for improvements in training. Each key theme had three subthemes that were further explored. Cultural safety training is a long and iterative process that has the potential to change care providers’ behaviours and attitudes. Various challenges to existing education and training included issues with implementation, limited follow up with health care staff to support practice changes, and/or limited commitment from senior leadership to change organizational policies and practices. As such, there is a clear need for systemic change within health care institutions to support staff participating in cultural safety training and to put that training into practice to create a culturally safe space for Indigenous individuals seeking health care.
 
 

Assessment of Usage of Personal Protective Equipment and Related Factors among Workers in Wood Workshops in Mutungo Parish, Nakawa Division, Kampala District

Aim: This study sought to assess the extent and reasons for utilization of PPE among workers in wood workshops in Mutungo Parish, Kampala District. Methods: The study used both qualitative and quantitative techniques in data collection. The sample size was 139 respondents in 11 wood workshops constituting of 5 in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was entered using epi-data 3.02 and then cleaned and univariate analysis done using STATA 13.0 while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Results: Despite all participants being aware of PPE, only 57.55% possessed at least one. 73.38% of respondents in the study had been victims of occupational hazards associated with wood workshop activities, the commonest injuries reported as cuts and hits. 62.5% of the workers had only one PPE, 35% had two and only 2.5% had at most three PPE while at work. The most possessed PPE was a dust mask, which was provided by the employer. In general, PPE utilization among the workers was found to be sub-optimal. Study findings showed that reasons for failure to utilize PPE included; unavailability due to cost implications, interference of the PPE with speed of work and comfort issues. Conclusion: Quality and affordable PPE should be availed in the market and, safety and health awareness and education programs be extended to workers in the informal wood workshops so as to sensitize the workers on how they can ensure their own safety during work.

Analysis of Traffic Crashes Caused by Motorcyclists Running Red Lights in Guangdong Province of China.

Motorcycles are among the primary means of transport in China, and the phenomenon of motorcyclists running red lights is becoming increasingly prevalent. Based on the traffic crash data for 2006–2010 in Guangdong Province, China, fixed- and random-parameter logit models are used to study the characteristics of motorcyclists, vehicles, roads, and environments involved in red light violations and injury severity resulting from motorcyclists’ running red lights in China. Certain factors that affect the probability of motorcyclists running red lights are identified. For instance, while the likelihood of violating red light signals during dark conditions is lower than during light conditions for both car drivers and pedestrians, motorcyclists have significantly increased probability of a red light violation during dark conditions. For the resulting severe casualties in red-light-running crashes, poor visibility is a common risk factor for motorcyclists and car drivers experiencing severe injury. Regarding the relationship between red light violations and the severity of injuries in crashes caused by motorcyclists running red lights, this study indicated that driving direction and time period have inconsistent effects on the probability of red light violations and the severity of injuries. On the one hand, the likelihood of red light violations when a motorcycle rider is turning left/right is higher than when going straight, but this turning factor has a nonsignificant impact on the severity of injuries; on the other hand, reversing, making a U-turn and changing lanes have nonsignificant effects on the probability of motorcyclists’ red light violations in contrast to going straight, but have a very significant impact on the severity of injuries. Moreover, the likelihood of red light violations during the early morning is higher than off-peak hours, but this time factor has a negative impact on the severity of injuries. Measures including road safety educational programs for targeted groups and focused enforcement of traffic policy and regulations are suggested to reduce the number of crashes and the severity of injuries resulting from motorcyclists running red lights.

Childcare Teachers' Perceptions and Needs for Early Childhood Safety Education Programs: Focusing on storytelling-based creative problem-solving programs

Childcare Teachers' Perceptions and Needs for Early Childhood Safety Education Programs: Focusing on storytelling-based creative problem-solving programs

Effectiveness of a school-based road safety educational program for lower secondary school students in Denmark: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

Road accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injuries among adolescents and young adults. Road safety education programs aim to promote safe traffic behavior through information, skills training or fear appeals. During the last decade, an intervention type using victim testimonials has been developed. These types of programs aim to promote road safety by connecting a personal narrative of choices and consequences to the beliefs and behaviors of the audience. Studies on the effectiveness of this type of road safety programs among youngsters who are not yet drivers are still limited.This study used a cluster-randomized and controlled trial design to examine the effect of a Danish school-based road safety educational program using testimonials for students in lower secondary schools in Denmark on a) knowledge of risks factors in traffic and b) two types of behavior specifically relevant for the pre-driver target group: seatbelt use and safe bicycle behavior. Our analysis sample comprised 1007 students from 57 schools with a matched baseline and four-month follow-up response.Linear regression analyses suggest a small positive effect on the students’ knowledge of the three most important risk factors in traffic but not on the age group most at risk. Concerning seatbelt use or overall cycling behavior no effect was found, although a small positive effect was found on helmet use. Neither was the effectiveness modified by gender, parental educational background, or risky cycling behavior at baseline.Although classroom-based interventions using testimonials may have the potential to increase knowledge of risk factors in traffic among adolescents, translating knowledge into safe traffic behavior is challenging. More studies are needed on how to further adapt the intervention to an age group who are not yet drivers. Such research may focus on mechanisms of change including the age-specific relevance of the ambassador’s testimonial and on employing strong elements of action guidance.

Security education as a practical dimension of implementing sustainable development concept

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the fact that it is a combination of safety and sustainability. For a better understanding of the essence of the subject matter, the general issues forming sustainable development and the objectives of security education as a transmitter between generations are presented. The key factors of education for security arise from sustainable development objectives. The concept of education for security cannot be tantamount to the anticipated reduced curricula in schools. The concept of security must be promoted not only as one of human needs but as an indispensable determinant of development and vice versa. In order to better understand the message of this text, a study has been carried out on safety education programmes at various levels of education in the European Union. The whole consideration has been contextualised on the basis of an analysis of written sources concerning the state's internal security as and when it comes to global security. Taking into account the significant role of security in the proper implementation of the concept of sustainable development gives sense to the implementation of individual sustainable development objectives in relation not only to global but also regional as well as local conditions.

The Analysis of Importance-Performance Degree and Needs for Developing Young Children Disaster Safety Education Program

The Analysis of Importance-Performance Degree and Needs for Developing Young Children Disaster Safety Education Program

Teaching children road safety using a simulated environment

<p>The importance of road safety education is widely acknowledged; however, there is a lack of consistency in road safety interventions currently being used in UK schools. Furthermore, the majority of road safety educational programmes use knowledge-based methods, which do not necessarily translate to improved behaviour in real traffic environments. The use of virtual reality is starting to emerge as a viable option, as it allows for repeated risk-free practice. This study aimed to test the efficacy and playability of a virtual reality road crossing iPad-based game with children aged 7-9 years. A total of 137 children from primary school years 3 and 4 completed the study. The game comprised ten levels increasing in complexity. Participants navigated to a target using a magic portal into the virtual world (the iPad position matching the direction of travel). Remote, anonymous in-game data were collected and the results suggested that performance was significantly better on their final attempt compared to their first attempt, regardless of age of gender. Overall, the results suggest that the iPad-based game allowed the children to practice road crossing in an immersive environment, without risk, and could provide a useful, evidence-based addition to current road safety education in UK schools.</p>