WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY |
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Community-Based Research Projects The WKU ALIVE CCP highlights a number of community-based research projects. Key features of these projects include efforts to: (1) seek to build upon community strengths, to identify community assets and to empower community members as a byproduct of the research process, (2) focus, generally, on meeting information and analytical needs of society's most economically, politically, and socially marginalized groups and communities, (3) actively involve local residents as co-investigators on an equal basis with university-trained scholars (and students) in each step of the research, (4) promote social learning processes, and (5) disseminate results and findings in multiple ways, for example, through academic journals, popular press, community meetings, foundation reports and publications, university and community forums. ----------------------------------------------- We are highlighting the following WKU faculty research projects: Dr. Grace Lartey (Public Health) School Bus Safety Program for Bristow Elementary School Student researchers: Amanda Mounce, Meredith Hall, Janelle Ward, and Mackenzie Francis Each year, over 400,000 school buses transport approximately 25 million children to and from school and school-related activities. It is estimated that 85% of these buses carry more than 16 passengers. Parents save time and money when their children ride school buses. In addition, studies have shown that school buses are safer compared to other forms of transportation. Regardless, school buses have been associated with crashes some of which resulted in injuries and deaths. Since 1996, 1,536 fatal motor-vehicle crashes have been classified as school-transportation related. On the average, about 20 school-age children die in school-related transportation each year as occupants or pedestrians. Behavioral programs such as student education have shown to help reduce or prevent some of the injuries and deaths associated with school buses. The purpose of this project is to plan, implement and evaluate a school bus safety program for Bristow Elementary School. ----------------------------------------------- Student Poster Dr. Grace Lartey (Public Health) Pedestrian Safety Program for Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School Student Researchers: Elizabeth Murray, Mahsa Kariman, Karie Starkey, Kayla Clausen, and Antoinette Danridge Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children between 5 and 14 years old. Nearly one third of all pedestrian injuries are sustained by children under the age of 14. Of all children between the ages 5 and 9 killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2000, approximately 23% of them were pedestrians. In 2002, about 43,300 children aged 14 and under visited emergency rooms with pedestrian-related injuries. Studies have revealed that 60-70% of pedestrian injuries to children under 10 years old and younger are due to the child walking across intersections improperly or darting out in the street between intersections. These days, children are walking and playing outside less than ever before because of the dangers that moving vehicles pose. At the same time, childhood obesity is increasing in our society. It is important to educate young children on the need for outdoor activities, including walking, and how to be safe as they are performing these activities. The ultimate goal of this program reduce pedestrian injury among Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School students by 2% within 5 years. It is hoped that at least 50% of the students will show 70% improvement in their pedestrian safety behavior by the end of the Spring semester. ----------------------------------------------- Student Poster Dr. Grace Lartey (Public Health) Bicycle Safety Program for Safe-T-City Bowling Green Student Researchers: Daryl Williams, Jillian Bracewell, Kuol Deng, and Katie Bittel Bicycling is a popular form of recreation among people of all ages. It is estimated 33 million children ride bicycles each year which translates to approximately 10 billion riding hours. Bicycling is a form of physical activity, provides children the opportunity to have fun/recreation, and it is a faster means of transportation versus walking. Bicycling can be fun; at the same time, it could dangerous. Bicycle-related injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality. Children between 5 and 14 years of age account for nearly half of all bicycle-related injuries and approximately 21% of all bicycle-related deaths. In 2002, nearly 288,900 children 14 years old and under visited hospital emergency rooms with bicycle-related injuries. Safety measures must be put in place to reduce and prevent some of these injuries. Bicycle safety interventions have proven to reduce the risk of bicycle-related injuries and deaths. The goal of this program is reduce bicycle-related injury and death by 2% among children in Bowling Green, KY by 2014. The program also hopes to improve the bicycle safety behavior of these children by 50%. ----------------------------------------------- Student Poster Dr. Grace Lartey (Public Health) Skateboarding Safety Program for Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School Student Researchers: Nan Willoughby, Randa Johnson, Lisa Meeks, Conrad Meeks Skateboarding has become a very popular sport over the past few years among children and teenagers', especially young males. Skateboarding is an activity requiring quick movement over a surface. Skateboarding can be a very positive hobby in a young person's life. This recreational activity (sport) provides ways for children and teenagers to exercise their bodies and keeps them out of trouble. However, skateboarding can be a dangerous sport when proper safety equipment is not used and safety guidelines are not followed. Skateboarding injuries can range from a minor cuts or bruises to severe head injuries. In the U.S., skateboard injuries are responsible for about 50,000 emergency room visits each year. Approximately, 60% of skateboarding injuries involve children under the age of 15. If the children are educated about the proper skateboarding safety measures, their risk to injuries will reduce. Health education should target children, teenagers, adolescents and adults on skateboard safety (rules of skateboarding, the right places to skateboard, safety equipment, and the proper times for skateboarding). The goal of this program is to reduce skateboarding injuries by 2% among 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at the Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School in Bowling Green, Kentucky by 2014. The program also hopes to improve on the skateboarding safety behavior of these students by 50%. ----------------------------------------------- Student Poster Dr. M. Christine Nagy (Public Health) How to Involve Parents in School Based Health Promotion Programs Student Researchers: Rahul Gandhi, Pavankumar Patel, Hariprakash Hadial, Bhagirath Palla Purpose of Study: Children's declining phsycial activity has attracted attention from those concerned with the health and well-being of the young. The purpose of the present study was to identify ways to inform and involve parents in the Safe Routes to School program. This program was designed to increase walking and biking to school and was to be implemented by the health department in local schools. Methods: An 8-item questionnaire designed parents' perception regarding their involvement in the walking and biking program, preferred types of educational materials and location where they could obtain information regarding the program was distributed to parents during a Bike Rodeo, held at a local park in the community in April 2007. Data was obtained from 57 parents. Results: An analysis of the data revealed that 91% of the parents believed that parental involvement in the program was very important and 89% considered that physical activity was important for their children. Newsletter was found to be the preferred way to receive information and the child's school was the place chosen to conduct educational sessions. Conclusion: For effective implementation of the Safe Routes to School program, parental involvement is vital. Insights obtained from the study were used to prepare tailored educational materials for increasing parental participation in the program. |
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Mailing Address: 1906 College Heights Blvd. #21095 Bowling Green, KY 42101- 1095 |
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