Dr Verity Bennett – Cardiff University
The Challenge
Each year more than 50,000 children attend healthcare settings with burns in the UK. Despite the high prevalence of preventable hot drink scalds in pre-school children, there is a paucity of research on effective prevention interventions and a serious need to improve parent’s knowledge of first aid. This study investigates the feasibility of ‘Safe-Tea’, an innovative multi-faceted community-based intervention delivered by early-years practitioners.
The Research
‘Safe-Tea’ was implemented at Childcare, Stay&Play and Home Visit settings, in areas of deprivation in the UK. A mixed methods approach was used, including pre- and post-intervention parent questionnaires and focus groups with parents and practitioners to test the acceptability, practicality and ability of staff to deliver the intervention to parents, in addition to limited efficacy.
The Findings
Intervention materials, activities and messages were well received and understood by both parents and community practitioners. Interactive and visual methods of communication requiring little to no reading were most acceptable. Parents’ knowledge and understanding of the risk of hot drink scalds and likelihood and severity of injury to children, increased post-intervention. Parents also gained confidence to correct the behaviours of others at home and pass on first aid messages.
The Impact
This feasibility study is a vital step towards the development of a robust, evidence-based behaviour change intervention model. Work has since been underway to refine intervention materials based on parent suggested improvements and test these more widely in communities within the UK. Safe-Tea will be launched across communities in England and Wales in autumn 2019.
For more intervention and to find out how you can be involved contact: Burnsresearch-admin@cardiff.ac.uk
