4. Evaluation
4.1. Statistical analysis
The current study aimed to investigate if providing home fire
safety information via DVD (whether via large group setting orindividual to one or two persons) could improve home fire
safety awareness and behaviors for families with and without
children with special needs. If group format is as effective as
individually, this may suggest a cost-effective way to deliver
this information. Future research would then be needed to
assess the effectiveness of web-based and social media
formats.
To realize this goal we assessed awareness and behaviors
in two groups of families using a group randomization
scheme. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at twoweek
follow-up. We then tested for differences between
groups and over time using Repeated Measures ANOVA
techniques. Since both groups had a significant proportion
of children who had a special need, we evaluated whether
having a child with special needs impacted outcomes. Since
no differences existed between groups or family type, we
pooled the samples (n = 87) to test for differences over time not
adjusting for group or family type; to evaluate the impact
providing home fire safety information had on awareness and
behaviors.
We evaluated some additional behaviors during the
intervention and performed a descriptive analysis. Similarly,
at follow-up we evaluated if families’ perceived knowledge
and ability had increased from baseline.