Using Virtual Reality to Train Children in Pedestrian Safety

描述（由申请人提供）：行人伤害是美国7-8岁儿童受伤和死亡的主要原因之一，但现有的以行为为导向的干预措施只取得了适度的成功。现有干预措施的一个局限性是，它们无法为儿童提供反复练习所需的技能，以发展安全步行活动所需的复杂感知和认知技能。虚拟现实（VR）提供了一种非常有前途的技术来训练儿童的行人安全技能。VR允许重复无监督的练习，没有受伤的风险；自动反馈给孩子成功或失败的交叉；调整交通密度和速度，以配合儿童的技能水平；一个有吸引力和有趣的训练环境。提出的研究旨在测试虚拟现实作为训练儿童行人安全过马路行为的工具的有效性。一项随机对照试验将在4个大小相等的7-8岁儿童组中进行（总N = 240）。其中一组将在交互式沉浸式虚拟行人环境中接受培训。虚拟环境已被证明具有面孔效度、构造效度和收敛效度。第二组将通过视频和计算机策略接受行人安全培训，这些策略在今天的美国学校中最广泛使用。第三组将在街边接受被认为是目前最有效的治疗，即个性化的行为训练。第四组也是最后一组将作为无接触对照组。所有组的所有参与者将在基线和干预后访问期间以及六个月的随访评估期间接受一系列基于现场和实验室的行人技能测量。初步分析将通过线性混合模型进行，旨在测试四个干预组随时间的变化。公共卫生相关性：行人伤害是美国7-8岁儿童死亡的主要原因之一。这个项目将研究虚拟现实作为一种训练儿童安全步行行为的手段的功效。研究结果将对预防儿童行人伤害具有重要意义。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pedestrian injuries are among the leading causes of pediatric injury and mortality in American children ages 7-8, but existing behavior-oriented interventions achieve only modest success. One limitation to existing interventions is that they fail to provide children with the repeated practice needed to develop the complex perceptual and cognitive skills required for safe pedestrian activity. Virtual reality (VR) offers a highly promising technique to train children in pedestrian safety skills. VR permits repeated unsupervised practice without risk of injury; automated feedback to children on success or failure in crossings; adjustment of traffic density and speed to match children's skill level; and an appealing and fun environment for training. The proposed research is designed to test the efficacy of virtual reality as a tool to train child pedestrians in safe street-crossing behavior. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with four equal-sized groups of children ages 7-8 (total N = 240). One group will receive training in an interactive and immersive virtual pedestrian environment. The virtual environment, already developed, has been demonstrated to have face, construct, and convergent validity. The second group will receive pedestrian safety training via video and computer strategies that are most widely used in American schools today. The third group will receive what is judged to be the most efficacious treatment currently available, individualized behavioral training at street side locations. The fourth and final group will serve as a no-contact control group. All participants in all groups will be exposed to a range of field- and laboratory-based measures of pedestrian skill during baseline and post-intervention visits, as well as during a six-month follow-up assessment. Primary analyses will be conducted through linear mixed models designed to test change over time in the four intervention groups. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Pedestrian injuries are among the leading cause of pediatric mortality for American children ages 7-8. This project will study the efficacy of virtual reality as a means to train children in safe pedestrian behavior. Results will have significant implications for child pedestrian injury prevention.