A Field Trial of an Educational Intervention to Promote Safe Behaviors in Pedestrians: Study Protocol

Harofteh, Fateme Zare; Hidarnia, Alireza; Morowatisharifabad, Mohammad Ali; Eslami, Mohammad · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-178169/v1

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Summary

This study protocol outlines a field trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention on promoting safe traffic behaviors among adult pedestrians in Yazd, Iran. The research is motivated by the high vulnerability of pedestrians, who account for 22% of global road crash fatalities and 23% of traffic fatalities in Iran. Despite existing strategic plans to reduce road deaths, unsafe pedestrian behaviors—such as ignoring traffic signals and not using overpasses—remain prevalent, particularly among young adults. The primary research question is whether a Theory-Based Training Package (TBTP), grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), can improve pedestrians’ safe traffic behaviors, risk perception, and intention to act safely. The study employs a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design consisting of four phases. Phase 1 involves qualitative focused group discussions to identify behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, which inform the development of a TPB-based questionnaire. Phase 2 is a cross-sectional study assessing the psychometric properties of this questionnaire and establishing baseline behavioral data among 510 eligible pedestrians. Phase 3 focuses on designing the educational intervention, which includes videos, posters, and stories tailored to the specific beliefs and cultural context identified in previous phases, reviewed by an expert panel. Phase 4 is the core field trial, a parallel-arm study involving 204 participants aged 18–35 selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from six healthcare centers in Yazd. The intervention group receives educational materials via social media networks over a six-month period, while the control group receives no intervention during the trial (though they are provided materials at the end for ethical reasons). Outcomes are measured using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires administered at baseline and three months post-intervention. The protocol specifies that data analysis will utilize paired t-tests and ANCOVA to compare mean scores of TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norms, perceived control, intention, and behavior) between the intervention and control groups. The study aims to determine if the intervention significantly improves safe behaviors compared to the control. The authors argue that this approach addresses a gap in the literature, as few studies have examined theory-based educational interventions for adult pedestrians in low- and middle-income countries. By leveraging social media for delivery, the study seeks to create a sustainable safety culture. Limitations acknowledged include the reliance on self-report questionnaires, potential memory errors, and the need for internet access, which the researchers plan to mitigate by providing free data plans to intervention participants. The trial is registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20180228038896N1).

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• pedestrian behavior perception

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation