Effect of education and legislation on bicycle helmet use in a multiracial population
J. J. Abularrage, A. J. DeLuca and C. J. Abularrage
Department of Pediatrics, New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, Flushing, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of new legislation and a boroughwide
bicycle helmet educational campaign on bicycle helmet use in a multiracial
population. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. Observations were
made at randomly selected sites in Queens (study group) and Brooklyn
(control group), NY, in May 1994, before a New York State law affecting
both boroughs was enacted and before a bicycle helmet educational campaign
was conducted in Queens. Variables observed included age, sex, race, and
whether the child was wearing a bicycle helmet while riding. A bicycle
helmet campaign was conducted in late May 1994. New York State bicycle
helmet law was effected on June 1, 1994, requiring all children aged 1 to
14 years to wear helmets while riding their bicycles. Follow-up
observations were made at the same sites in July or August 1994. SETTING:
Queens County, New York, which is the most racially diverse county in the
United States, according to 1990 census data. PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional
observations of children aged 1 to 14 years made at randomly selected
sites. INTERVENTIONS: A boroughwide bicycle helmet educational campaign
conducted in May 1994 in Queens. RESULTS: The overall use of helmets
increased from 4.7% (13/276) to 13.9% (44/316) (P < .001) in the study
group. Helmet use decreased from 5.6% (19/342) to 4.2% (13/312) (P = .10)
in the control group during the same period. CONCLUSIONS: In a multiracial
population, a statistically significant (P < .001) increase of helmet
use was demonstrated after a campaign and distribution of educational
material. Legislation alone is inadequate for ensuring increased bicycle
helmet use.
