Information-provision intervention for children and their parents following pediatric accidental injury.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated an early intervention for children and their parents following pediatric accidental injury.

METHOD

Information booklets provided to participants within 72 h of the initial trauma detailed common responses to trauma, the common time course of symptoms, and suggestions for minimizing any post-trauma distress. Following admission for traumatic injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents, falls and sporting injuries a total of 103 children (aged 7-15) and their parents were evaluated at pre-intervention, 1 month, and 6 months post-trauma. The intervention (N = 33) was delivered to one of two hospitals, the second hospital was the control (N = 70).

RESULTS

Analyses indicated that the intervention reduced child anxiety symptoms at 1-month follow-up and parental posttraumatic intrusion symptoms and overall posttraumatic symptoms at the 6-month follow-up. No other differences between the intervention and control groups were found.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the information-based early intervention is simple, cost-effective method of reducing child and parent distress post-trauma.