Faculty Collaboration Database

Pediatric exposure to choking hazards is associated with parental knowledge of choking hazards. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2012 Feb;76(2):169-73

Date

12/16/2011

Pubmed ID

22169464

DOI

10.1016/j.ijporl.2011.10.018

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84855931336 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   31 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate parental knowledge regarding household food and non-food choking hazards.

DESIGN: Cross Sectional Survey.

SETTING: Tertiary Care Children's Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Parents presenting to a Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic with a child <4 years old.

METHODS: Parental survey asking which choking hazard foods (CHF) they allow their child to eat, previous instruction of CHF, knowledge of non-food choking hazards, and their knowledge sources.

STATISTICS: adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and logistic regressions.

RESULTS: 492 respondents. Adjusted for significant covariates associations between correct knowledge of CHF and correct parents actions of disallowing CHF: fruit chunks (prior instruction=42%; correct action=25%; AOR=3.51; P<0.0001), hot dogs (59%; 28%; 1.75; 0.0178), raw vegetables (41%; 47%; 1.28; 0.198) popcorn (67%; 49% 2.64; <0.0001), whole grapes (68%; 51%; 2.2; <0.0001), nuts (73%; 66%; 2.47; <0.0001), chunks of peanut butter (45%; 79%; 2.55; 0.0003), sticky candy (79%; 80%; 2.16; <0.0033), gum (72%; 84%; 1.75; 0.028), seeds (65%; 87%; 1.4; 0.247), 76% always supervise meals, 57% always cut food, 62% know CPR. KNOWLEDGE OF NON-FOOD HAZARDS: Coins (97%), marbles (94%), small batteries (93%), small toy parts (93%), dice (92%), pen caps (92%), safety pins (85%), balloons (84%), syringes (40%). Sources of choking hazard knowledge: physicians (67%), family/friends (52%), books/magazines (40%), and the Internet (25%).

CONCLUSIONS: Parental knowledge of CHF is incomplete. The consumption of CHF in children under 4 is significantly associated with decreased parental knowledge. Therefore, more parental education is needed.

Author List

Nichols BG, Visotcky A, Aberger M, Braun NM, Shah R, Tarima S, Brown DJ

Authors

Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Alexis M. Visotcky Biostatistician III in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Age Distribution
Airway Obstruction
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Food
Health Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hospitals, Pediatric
Household Articles
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Male
Parent-Child Relations
Parents
Primary Prevention
Sex Distribution
Surveys and Questionnaires