A Brief Educational Program Improves Awareness Regarding Whiplash Prevention Among a Cohort of Vehicle Fleet Managers in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

Objective: Previous research indicates that most vehicle occupants are unaware that a correctly adjusted, well-designed vehicular head restraint provides substantial protection against whiplash injuries. This study examined whether a brief educational intervention could improve awareness regarding whiplash injuries and prevention strategies among a cohort of vehicle fleet managers.

Methods: A brief written survey was administered prior to, and approximately 1 h after a 30-min presentation on whiplash injury and prevention measures, which was delivered at a regional fleet manager meeting held in British Columbia, Canada (n = 27 respondents).

Results: Respondents had low baseline knowledge levels regarding the causes, consequences, and prevention of whiplash. Following the presentation, however, respondents improved awareness in all of these domains and, most important, reported an increased motivation to implement changes based on this newly acquired knowledge.

Conclusions: These results indicate that improved education practices and social marketing tools are potentially valuable to increase awareness among relevant stakeholders.

Keywords:

• Head restraint
• Headrest
• Survey
• Motor vehicle injury
• Rear end collision

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank our research team members Dinithi Peiris, Anne Snowdon, Shahnaz Atashband, Daniel Mang, Mehmet A. Vural, Jennifer Jones, Nayomi Gomes, Darren Beck, Yamesha Ranatunga, Harshani Wijeratne, and Tonya Hyde. We also thank Whiplash Prevention Steering Committee in British Columbia for their efforts to reduce whiplash injury and create awareness about safer vehicles in our province. Useful information and tips to buy safer vehicles can be obtained from http://www.whiplashprevention.org/Consumers/Pages/RateMyCar.aspx. We also acknowledge the financial support of the AUTO21 Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for access to their database.