A historical comparison of child and parent reports of injury prevention behaviors: findings from the Pinellas County Omnibus Study.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the motor vehicle injury prevention behaviors reported by the 12th-grade cohort of the Pinellas County Omnibus Study for years 2001-2002, compare these findings to those reported by parents in 1991-1992, and discuss the role of public health and injury prevention in these efforts. The questions in 2001-2002 were modeled after the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) injury prevention items. Comparisons of findings in 2001-2002 and 1991-1992 were done using chi analyses. In addition, 2001-2002 results were compared to the 2001 Florida YRBS and national YRBS findings. The results of the study showed that the Omnibus cohort was significantly more likely to report safer motor vehicle injury prevention behaviors in 2001-2002 than what was reported by parents in 1991-1992. Also, the student cohort reported safer behaviors for all items than did Florida and US 12th-grade students as shown in the state and national YRBS results. The ecological model most likely contributed to these findings because there are comprehensive health education and injury prevention efforts in the state, Pinellas County schools, and in the community, including a very active community traffic safety team and the passage of significant statewide injury prevention legislation.