Evaluating knowledge and attitude of physicians regarding medicinal drugs and driving: a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study

Background. Drugged driving is a growing traffic safety issue in many countries. Adequate knowledge of physicians concerning the effects of different medicines on driving can help them prescribe safer medications. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of family physicians regarding the effect of medicines on driving. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 91 family physicians in East Azerbaijan Province. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. This study considered knowledge and attitude as dependent variables and demographic characteristics as independent variables. To investigate the relationship between independent and dependent variables, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square, and multiple linear regression were used. Data were analyzed using Stata version 17. Results. According to the results, almost 65 (71.43%) of the participants were women and 26 (28.57%) were men with an average age of 31.54 years. The average score of physicians’ attitude about the effect of medicines on driving was 71.70 ± 14.94, and the average score of their knowledge was 37.52 ± 10.23. Therefore, 44 (48.35%) of the physicians had a good level of attitude, whereas 46 (52.87%) of them had a low level of knowledge regarding medications and driving. Receiving education regarding medications and driving was significantly correlated with the level of knowledge and the attitude of physicians (P<0.05). However, no significant relationship was observed between the attitude and knowledge of physicians and other demographic variables. Conclusion. Considering physicians’ inadequate knowledge regarding the effect of medicines on driving, it is essential to hold training and retraining courses in the field of medicines and driving for physicians and develop a classification system for the drugs affecting driving in Iran. Practical Implications. The findings of this study can be presented to the policy-makers of the Ministry of Health in order to provide an opportunity to boost the knowledge and attitude of physicians regarding medicines and driving with the support of universities of medical sciences. As a result, an important step can be taken to reduce traffic accidents caused by prescription medicines

Evaluation of cost-effectiveness of single-credit traffic safety course based on Kirkpatrick model: a case study of Iran

Abstract Background Training plays a role in reducing traffic accidents, and evaluating the effectiveness of training programs in managers’ decision-making for training continuation is important. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a single-credit traffic safety course based on the four levels of the Kirkpatrick model in all Iranian universities. Methods This interventional study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a single-credit traffic safety course based on the Kirkpatrick model from 2016 to 2020 in Iran. The data were collected in three stages: (1) calculating the costs of offering traffic safety courses, (2) determining the effectiveness of providing such courses based on the levels of the Kirkpatrick model, and (3) evaluating the cost-effectiveness of administering traffic safety courses. Data were collected through researcher-made and standardized questionnaires. The research population included traffic safety course instructors and university students who could take this course. Finally, the data were analyzed with SPSS v. 23 and also calculations related to ICER, which shows the cost effectiveness of providing single credit course. Results Scores of the students’ reaction level to the traffic safety course was 41.8% before the course; this score was estimated at 67% after the course. At the level of learning, students’ knowledge was 43.6% before the training course, which reached 73% after the course. At the level of behavior, the state of students’ desirable traffic behaviors was 54% before the course, which reached 66.1% after the course. The educational effectiveness of the course presentation at the level of results was 58.2% before and 74.8% after the course. While assuming that the weights of all model levels were constant, the cost of a 1% increase in the overall educational effectiveness by using the Kirkpatrick model, compared to not providing the course (not administering the intervention) was 486.46 USD. Conclusion The results showcased the effectiveness of the traffic safety course in all four levels of The Kirkpatrick model. Therefore, policy-makers and officials in charge of delivering this program should strengthen it and resolve its deficiencies to realize all its educational goals at the highest level

Parents’ knowledge and socio-demographic determinants toward child’s restraint system use

Abstract Background Lack of protection or improper protection, is one of the most important reasons of child passenger’s death and injury in traffic crashes. Based on what we see on the roads, Iranian children are unrestrained inside the car. The aim of this study was to investigate children restrained system (CRS) use rate, its socio-demographic determinants and parents’ knowledge toward CRS use among Iranian parents. Methods Using multi-stage cluster sampling and direct in filed method of observation, the behavior of 700 children in cars was observed in the current cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic determinants and parents’ knowledge, toward using the CRS were evaluated using questionnaires. The study was performed from July to August 2019 in Tabriz city, northwestern Iran. Results The rate of child safety seat (CSS) use was 15.1% CI 95%:(12.5%,18.0%), and the rate of booster use was 0.6%; CI 95%:(4.3%,8.0%). The majority of parents [e.g. 64.3%; CI 95%: (60.7%,67.9%)], had low knowledge about the use of CRS. The most important reasons for not using CRS was lack of laws and policies [e.g. 59.7%; CI 95%:(12.5%,18.0%)], lack of knowledge [e.g.59.6%; CI 95%:(57.9%, 63.3%)] and the high cost of CRS [e.g. 57.6%; CI 95%:(53.81%,61.2%)]. The most important predictors of not using CRS were the child's age, parental knowledge, and the socioeconomic status of the household (p < 0.05). Conclusions Most children did not have CRS. The parents with higher education and those with higher socioeconomic status had higher rate of CRS use. Based on the low rate of CRS use and poor parental knowledge about it, education of parents toward boosters use and benefits of using CRS, enforcing mandatory laws and ploicies for CRS use in Iran, and allocation of government subsidies to low-income families for purchasing CRS are suggeted as essential strategies to increase CRS use