Effectiveness of home accident education provided face-to-face and via social media: A quasi-experimental study

Objective: This study aimed to compare the knowledge levels of mothers who received education on home accidents and prevention for children aged 0–6, delivered either face-to-face or via social media, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this education. Design: Quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test control group design. Method: Mothers of children aged 0–6 attending an outpatient clinic, who consented to participate in the study, were assigned to three groups (face-to-face education, social media, control) based on days of the week they attended, with 60 participants per group, totaling 180. All mothers completed a personal information form and the Identification of Safety Precautions for Home Accidents Scale for children aged 0–6. Face-to-face sessions were held in groups of five; social media education was shared on Instagram over 21 days, with no intervention for the control group. After 21 days, mothers completed the scale again. Results: The post-test scale scores of the face-to-face and social media education participants were higher than those of the control group. Among those receiving face-to-face education, the mean post-test scale scores were higher than those of the social media group. Conclusion: In this study, education provided to mothers on home accidents and preventive measures, both face-to-face and via social media, showed efficacy. Diverse methods can be employed to provide mothers with education about home accidents and home accident prevention. Future studies may find the use of social media particularly suitable for engaging larger groups.