CRICOS No. 00213J

Dr Kirsten Vallmuur and Ms Kim Vuong

Change table-related injuries: Patterns, parental knowledge and

implications for regulators

Background

• Change tables are a leading cause of fall-related injuries in infants across the world

• There are European and USA standards, but no voluntary/mandatory standards in Australia

• 60% of change tables sold in Australia were not recommended for purchase by CHOICE testing

Aims of Research

• Describe change table injury patterns in infants• Assess parents perception’s of risk and

knowledge about change table standards• Identify intervention opportunities (including

standards/education campaigns)

Methods

• Analysis of injury data from emergency departments for Qld infants over last 8 years

• Survey of parents to assess their knowledge, risk perception, attitudes and beliefs about change tables

0m 3m 6m 9m 12m

15m

18m

21m

24m

27m

30m

34m

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Change table-related ED presentations by age in months 2004-2011

Months of age

Age

per

cent

age

45% of all patients aged between 5-9m

Over 2/3 of all patients aged under 1year old

Survey of parents: Characteristics

• Number of participants = 111• 60% first time parents• 84% own a change table• 2/3 use the change table most of the time to

change nappies

Survey of parents: Safety risks

• 11% of parents indicated baby had an accident on change table

• Over half intended to keep one hand on the baby at all times on change table

• 82% agreed that a change table accident would cause a serious injury to their infant

Survey of parents: Knowledge• Two-thirds of parents thought there were

mandatory standards for change tables• Parents indicated the following factors were

considerations in assessing change table safety:– height of sides– headboard at back– sturdiness of design– presence of safety harnesses– ease of access to wipes/diapers– presence of wheels

• BUT, can they accurately evaluate products?

29% parents thought NOT safe

73% parents thought NOT safe

47% parents thought NOT safe Parent’s views compared

to CHOICE testing results

Recommendations for regulators/industry: Standards

• While standards exist elsewhere, falls from change tables still a leading cause of injury internationally – Is there a better design solution or is it all about consumers behaviour?

• Need to identify designs which reduce the risk of babies rolling off/falling from tables while not increasing the risk of entrapment/strangulation of the child and not increasing risk of back strain to carer

• Note that a submission to develop an Australian/New Zealand Standard is currently being considered

Recommendations for regulators/industry: Education

• Raise parent’s awareness about how to accurately evaluate safety of current products – Understand influences underpinning the enactment of

safety behaviour– Understand how consumers behave when seeking out

products • Improve parent’s knowledge about lack of standards

– Change consumer perception that all products are inherently ‘safe’

– Increase supervision intentions

CRICOS No. 00213J

FURTHER INFORMATION:Consumer product-related injuries in Queensland children : A snapshot of current problem areas for potential action. 2013. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/58389/

Feasibility of using health data sources to inform product safety surveillance in Queensland : a report for the Queensland Injury Prevention Council. 2011. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/46518/

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Associate Supervisors: Ioni Lewis and Angela Watson

Consumer Product Injury Research Advisory Group (CPIRAG)

EMAIL: k.vallmuur@qut.edu.au