Document Type
DNP Project
Publication Date
5-2022
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Faculty Advisor
Rosemary Johnson, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC
Practice Mentor
Tyler Webb, MS, M.Ed.
Abstract
Background: Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers in the United States. Driver distraction is responsible for more than 58% of teen crashes. Evidence from 9 critically appraised articles including two systematic reviews support the need to reduce distracted driving among teenagers; mobile applications along with education can impact behavioral change to encourage teens to refrain from this unsafe practice.
Purpose: The use of the mobile application “Safe2Save” that financially rewards users for not unlocking their cellphone while driving may motivate teenagers to reduce this high-risk behavior. The global aim for this project is to incorporate education on distracted driving and the use of mobile apps into High School curriculum. The specific aim of this project is to decrease the amount students unlock their cellphone while driving over a 4-week period measured by the app “Safe2Save” and improve their perception related to distracted driving after education measured by the Distracted Driving Survey (DDS).
Methods: Seniors at a high school volunteered to participate in this QI project. Baseline DDS results were collected, then students downloaded the app, received education, and submitted post-surveys. Data was collected from 11/2021 to 1/2022. Evaluation and adjustments were discussed allowing for recommendations for sustainability using IHI’s model of the Plan-Do-Study-Act.
Results: Comparing students driving statistics showed an inconsistent correlation between using the app and decreasing cellphone use while driving. Comparison between pre-and post-DDS scores were not done. There was significant drop in post-DDS responses (n=6) compared to pre-DDS responses (n=15). Additionally, the responses to the survey were anonymous. However, both survey responses demonstrated viewing maps as the most prevalent reason to use a cellphone while driving. This calls for more concrete findings whether a mobile app and education reduces the amount teenagers use their cellphone while driving.
Discussion: The outcome information suggests that it is uncertain if the use of a mobile app that financially rewards users will influence the amount individuals use their cellphone while driving. This project calls for additional studies to support the incorporation of education including mobile apps into High School curriculum.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Mankus, K. (2022). Evaluating the use of a mobile app in high school seniors to monitor cellphone use while driving: A quality improvement project [Unpublished DNP project]. Sacred Heart University.
Included in
Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Social Media Commons
Comments
A DNP project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing.