Abstract

Drowning is a leading, preventable cause of death among children aged one to four, and caregiver education is critical for reducing risk. This quality improvement project evaluated the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Drowning Prevention Toolkit to enhance caregiver knowledge, adherence to water safety behaviors, and provider confidence in delivering education.

The project was implemented in a pediatric clinic in Colorado with caregivers of children aged one to four during routine well visits over a three-month period. Guided by the Health Belief Model and structured using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, caregivers received brief, structured drowning prevention education using the AAP Toolkit. Pre- and post-surveys, delivered via QR code through Qualtrics, assessed changes in knowledge and self-reported safety behaviors two weeks after education. Providers also reported on their confidence in delivering drowning prevention education.

Survey data were analyzed using paired t-tests and descriptive statistics in SPSS Version 29. Results demonstrated a 20% increase in caregiver knowledge, meeting the project’s goal. Thirty-seven percent of caregivers adopted three or more recommended safety behaviors, with 55% designating a “water watcher,” 73% removing pool toys from water, and most using life jackets consistently. Providers reported increased confidence in delivering education. Limitations included a small sample size, limited post-survey responses, and no HIPAA-compliant reminder system.

This project supports evidence that structured, evidence-based drowning prevention education improves caregiver knowledge, promotes safety behaviors, and enhances provider confidence. Recommendations for practice include integrating the AAP Toolkit into routine pediatric visits, embedding prompts in electronic health records, offering multilingual materials, and continuing to evaluate caregiver feedback. APRNs are well-positioned to lead these initiatives, supporting anticipatory guidance and community safety.

Author Details

Kristian Manolakis, DNP(c), BSN, RN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Drowning Prevention, Pediatric Safety, Caregiver Education

Advisor

Megan Owen

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Baylor University

Degree Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2025-11-03

Full Text of Presentation

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