Heliyon (Sep 2023)
CBT program to reduce recidivism risk for road crashes among adolescents and young adults: Results of a randomized controlled study and prospects
Abstract
Road crashes are the first cause of mortality for young adults aged 18–25 years and the human factor contributes to 90–95% of events. The present study was carried out to determine the efficacity of the ECARR2 recurrence prevention program among adolescents and young adults at high risk of having a new traffic crash in the following months. A total of 288 participants having had a traffic crash that required going to the emergency room, at high risk of accident recurrence (ECARR≥5) were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 144) or the control group (n = 144). Results: revealed that the risk of recurrence was highest during the first 6 months (66% of recurrences). In per-protocol analysis population, at 6 months after inclusion, the accident recurrence rate was 14.2% ± 3.3% in the intervention group, and 23.5% ± 4.0% in the control group. The intervention had an effect per se, independently of the other predictors (p = 0.020). This effect was mediated by the three interaction variables: BDI, Impulsive Behavior Scale lack of perseverance, and Orientation to Happiness engagement. It was therefore through these dimensions that the intervention had an effect. In conclusion, the ECARR score predicts the risk of recurrence, risk which is the highest during the first 6 months. Finally, results confirm the predictive validity of the ECARR scale. The ECARR score had an effect on the risk of recurrence regardless of group (p = 0.045) and was predictive of recurrence (p = 0.045).A brief psychological intervention such as ECARR2 program, offered to young people ar hight risk of having a new crash, just after the crash, seems to halve the risk of recurrence at 6 months. Future research should improve the brief psychological intervention and its access via a mobile application or few hours in high school or in a driving school given.
