Guidance

Appendix D: Gaps in the evidence

Appendix D: Gaps in the evidence

PHIAC identified a number of gaps in the evidence relating to the interventions under examination, based on an assessment of the evidence. These gaps are set out below.

1. There is a lack of epidemiological data on unintentional injuries in the home among under-15s – the types, causes and severity of injuries (in particular, in relation to falls).

2. There is limited, high quality evidence from the UK on the effectiveness of:

  • a range of home safety equipment, for example, carbon monoxide detectors and equipment incorporating new technologies (the latter include 10-year batteries and hard-wired smoke alarms)

  • different approaches to installing and maintaining home safety equipment and on the comparative effectiveness of combining different approaches (for example, education combined with the installation of safety equipment)

  • targeted approaches and the effects of interventions on different population groups, including deprived and high-risk households

  • making people aware of home safety issues to increase the use of safety equipment.

3. There is a lack of cost-effectiveness studies and related data, such as the standard cost of home safety equipment and installation.

4. There is limited evidence on the reasons why deprived and other high-risk households may be unreceptive to home safety interventions and on what encourages them to take them up.