Presenter Profile
Shannon Landers, MS
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas City University
Shannon.Landers@kansascity.edu
Shannon Landers is a second-year medical student at Kansas City University. She grew up in Palos Heights, Illinois, and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa where she majored in biochemistry. She also completed her Master of Biomedical Science at Kansas City University. In her free time, Shannon enjoys reading thriller novels, baking, and playing with her three-legged cat, Gibbs. Shannon is passionate about pediatric medicine and hopes that this research in injury prevention will help bring awareness regarding bicycle safety.
Presentations
Rural Adolescent Attitudes and Use of Bicycle Helmets in Iowa
Brianna Iverson, BS
Devin Spolsdoff, MS
Pam Hoogerwerf, BA
Kristel Wetjen, RN MSN
Shannon Landers, MS
Charles Jennissen, MD
Head injuries are the most common cause of fatal injuries among cyclists. Helmet use can significantly decrease the risk. Our study objective was to evaluate the frequency of bicycle helmet use by rural adolescents, determine their attitudes with regards to helmets, and to identify associated demographic factors.
A convenience sample of 2022 Iowa FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) Leadership Conference attendees completed an anonymous survey electronically by cell phone or by paper which was later entered into the Qualtrics database. Descriptive, contingency table and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
1,331 rural adolescents 13-18 years of age participated. Almost three-fifths (58%) of respondents were female and 56% were 16-18 years. One-half lived on a farm, 21% lived in the country/not on a farm and 28% lived in town. Ninety percent of subject’s households had at least one bicycle. Overall, 78% had ridden a bicycle in the past year. Those who lived on farms had lower proportions that had ridden a bicycle in the past year (68%) then those that lived elsewhere (82%), p<0.001. Those from farms had lower proportions that rode at least weekly (21%) as compared to those from the country/not on a farm (35%) and from towns (31%), both p<0.001. Younger teens (13-15 years) were twice as likely as older teens (16-18 years) to ride at least weekly. Median importance (rated 1-10) of wearing a helmet on a bike was 4.7 with a median of 4. Females, younger teens, those who were not non-Hispanic White, and those who did not live on farms all ascribed higher bicycle helmet importance than their corresponding peers. Fifteen percent believed there should be a law requiring the use of a helmet while riding a bicycle. Three-quarters (74%) rarely or never wore a helmet; only 13% said they always or mostly wore a helmet. There was a direct relationship between helmet use and those who rode more frequently, as well as to those who ascribed a higher importance to helmet use. Only 12% of participants stated their parents had a strict “no helmet, no bike riding rule”. However, those who had such a rule had 18x greater odds of supporting a bicycle helmet law and had a higher median ascribed bicycle helmet importance (9) compared to those without such a rule (4). Moreover, those with the strict rule had 32x higher odds of wearing a bicycle helmet always or most of the time versus those who had no rule.
Bicycle helmet use is infrequent amongst rural adolescents. Youth whose parents had a strict “no helmet, no bike riding rule” had significantly greater helmet use, placed greater importance on helmet use and were more supportive of bicycle helmet laws.
Attendees will be able to:
1. State the frequency of rural adolescent’s use of bicycles and bicycle helmets.
2. Identify at least three rural adolescent demographic groups who ascribe lower importance to helmet use.
3. Discuss how a strict parental “no helmet, no bike riding rule” might influence bike helmet use and attitudes.