The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of a smartphone app in reducing mobile phone use while driving among teens and parents. Prior to sending a message, the smartphone app informs a potential message sender that the recipient is driving.
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the app reduces (1) smartphone communication sent from parent to teen while the teen is driving; and (2) smartphone communication sent from teen while the teen is driving. The secondary objectives are to: Determine whether the app reduces smartphone communication sent from teen to parent while parent is driving; Evaluate the acceptability of the app among parents and teens; and determine the relationship between individual differences (demographics, typical smartphone use, driving history, risk perception) and the app's efficacy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
500
Participants will receive a Bluetooth device to use for the duration of the study, and will use the app with all features turned on.
Participants will not receive a Bluetooth device, and will use the app with all features turned on.
Participants will receive a Bluetooth device to use for the duration of the study, and will use the app with some features turned off.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Changes in frequency of smartphone use while driving
Changes in smartphone communication sent from parent to teen while the teen is driving and changes in smartphone communication sent from teen while the teen is driving. Frequency of smartphone use is recorded by the app among the three app modes. Within-driver smartphone use over the 3-week study period is compared as the app modes change. Smartphone use between driver groups will also be compared.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Changes in frequency of self-reported smartphone use while driving
The change in self-reported smartphone use while driving will be assessed using the same within-driver and between-driver comparisons as the primary outcome measure. Self-reported smartphone use is collected through 10 items on a participant survey that is completed at enrollment, each week for 3 weeks. Participants also report how many times per day (free text, any number greater than or equal to 0) that they drove, and talked on a hands-held smartphone, sent a text, and read a text while driving.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Acceptability and Usability of the App
Participant assessment of accessibility and usability will be collected, and Manual Mode and Auto-Detect Mode of the LifeSaver app will be compared. Participants complete a survey at the end of week 3, post-intervention. 8 items in the survey ask participants about accessibility and usability of the app through Likert scales (range from Not at all to Extremely). 3 items in the survey ask participants about accessibility and usability of the app through open-ended questions, where participants are able to enter free text. There is no overall score for these survey items.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Changes in frequency of text messages sent to Bluetooth device users
Bluetooth device users will have received text message date and time collected via the Bluetooth device. This device will only collect data from the dyad partner enrolled in the study with them. This data will be used to validate the self report data collected from all participants.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Participants will not receive a Bluetooth device, and will use the app with some features turned off.
Time frame: 3 weeks