Wardle S, Iqbal Z
South Staffordshire Health Authority, Stafford.
J Public Health Med. 1998 Mar;20(1):70-7. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubmed.a024722.
Despite increasing evidence indicating that wearing cycle helmets can reduce the severity of head injuries, particularly in children, there is a paucity of local data on cycle helmet ownership and wearing rates. These data together with an understanding of the factors which influence these rates are important in developing appropriate health promotion programmes.
The objectives were to (1) establish patterns of cycle helmet ownership and wearing rates, and (2) determine factors influencing these rates. A descriptive survey involving a self-completed questionnaire was undertaken and a series of focus groups were also established. The setting was two high schools and four primary schools in each of the six boroughs or district councils within South Staffordshire involving 932 Year 6 and 2005 Year 10 children.
The response ratio was 70.9 per cent from Year 6 and 80.9 per cent from Year 10, giving an overall response rate of 77.8 per cent. Most children (86.6 per cent) rode a bicycle and of these 42.8 per cent owned a cycle helmet. Just over a third (36.8 per cent) of Year 6 cyclists wore a helmet always or nearly always, compared with 13.7 per cent of Year 10 cyclists. Although the protective effect of cycle helmets was appreciated, many children did not see themselves as being personally at risk, particularly on short journeys. The appearance and comfort of the helmet appeared to be stronger factors influencing the uptake of helmets compared with cost. Both year groups were similarly concerned with comfort, but Year 10 children appeared more concerned with appearance than Year 6 children.
Cycle helmet ownership and wearing is still disappointingly low, especially amongst older children. The factors influencing patterns of ownership and wearing are numerous and the interrelationships between them are complex, requiring a co-ordinated approach from a range of agencies. Cycle helmet legislation should be considered by the Government.
尽管越来越多的证据表明佩戴自行车头盔可以降低头部受伤的严重程度，尤其是对儿童而言，但关于自行车头盔拥有率和佩戴率的本地数据却很匮乏。这些数据以及对影响这些比率的因素的了解，对于制定合适的健康促进计划至关重要。
目标是（1）确定自行车头盔的拥有模式和佩戴率，以及（2）确定影响这些比率的因素。开展了一项涉及自我填写问卷的描述性调查，并设立了一系列焦点小组。调查对象是南斯塔福德郡六个行政区或地方议会中每区的两所高中和四所小学，共涉及932名六年级学生和2005名十年级学生。
六年级学生的回应率为70.9%，十年级学生的回应率为80.9%，总体回应率为77.8%。大多数儿童（86.6%）骑自行车，其中42.8%拥有自行车头盔。六年级骑自行车的学生中略多于三分之一（36.8%）总是或几乎总是佩戴头盔，而十年级骑自行车的学生这一比例为13.7%。尽管人们认识到自行车头盔的保护作用，但许多儿童并不认为自己个人会有危险，尤其是在短途骑行时。与成本相比，头盔的外观和舒适度似乎是影响头盔使用的更强因素。两个年级的学生同样关注舒适度，但十年级学生似乎比六年级学生更在意外观。
自行车头盔的拥有率和佩戴率仍然低得令人失望，尤其是在年龄较大的儿童中。影响拥有和佩戴模式的因素众多，且它们之间的相互关系复杂，需要一系列机构采取协调一致的方法。政府应考虑制定自行车头盔相关法规。
