Hatfield J, Boufous S, Eveston T. An evaluation of the effects of an innovative school-based cycling education program on safety and participation.
Accid Anal Prev 2019;
127:52-60. [PMID:
30831538 DOI:
10.1016/j.aap.2019.02.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cycling education programs for children could play a role in promoting both cycling participation and cycling safety, and they exist in many countries - often in school settings. Evaluations have generally shown improvements in skills and knowledge, but effects on less-researched outcomes such as safety-related behaviour, crashes or injuries, cycling participation, and cycling confidence, are unclear. The present research evaluated Safe Cycle, an innovative Australian school-based program that addresses hazard awareness and overconfidence in addition to more typical content (e.g. handling skills), in terms of a comprehensive range of outcomes. Students from Years 4 to 8 (n = 108) completed online surveys in class before, immediately after, and approximately 14 weeks after, the 8-week program was delivered. Significant increases in knowledge and confidence were observed, while results also suggested increases in cycling participation. The program appeared to address illusory invulnerability effectively, but there was no evidence that the program improved safety-relevant cycling behaviours or experience of crashes. The benefits of Safe Cycle might be enhanced by including elements to increase motivation to perform safety-relevant behaviours and durability of program effects.
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