Identification of household dangers by parents from adult versus child visual perspective

BACKGROUND: This study utilized videos from a child’s and an adult’s perspective to determine whether perspective influences the number of hazards identified by parents. METHODS: The study measured number of household dangers parents’ identified. Parents (n=106) were randomized to view either the child or adult perspective videos. Groups did not differ with respect to median age (p=0.51), education (p=0.55), or number of children living at home (p=0.64). RESULTS: Median number of hazards identified in the bedroom was 3 for participants watching videos taken at either adult or child perspective (p=0.32). Parents viewing child perspective videos of the kitchen identified significantly more hazards (median=4) than parents viewing adult perspective videos (median=3) (p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although video height (perspective) did not influence the number of hazards identified in the bedroom, parents who observed the kitchen video taken at a child’s height identified more hazards than those viewing a video at adult height.