Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40899355›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of school health2026

Measuring Australian Primary School Children's Water Safety Knowledge: Alignment With the Victorian Water Safety Certificate.

Lauren Petrass, Hannah Calverley, Bernadette Matthews

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of school health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Lauren PetrassInstitute of Education, Arts and Community, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1985-034X
Hannah CalverleyLife Saving Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3416-5690
Bernadette MatthewsLife Saving Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6258-2961

Funding

The Victorian Department of Education as part of the Public Water Safety Initiative
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWater safety education is essential to prevent drowning. In Australia, while water safety education is included in the school curriculum, the focus is often on skill attainment rather than knowledge.

methodsThis study assessed water safety knowledge in Grade 5 and 6 students (aged 9-11 years). Surveys were conducted with students and parents. Additionally, swim teachers conducted standardized knowledge assessments.

resultsMatched surveys were completed by 99 students and their parents. Students' mean knowledge score was 8.7 (SD = 2.4) out of 15. Private swimming lessons and speaking English at home were linked to higher knowledge scores. Only 55.6% of students achieved the knowledge standards in swim teacher assessments. Parents overestimated their child's knowledge in 42.1% of cases, underestimated it in 31.6%, and accurately assessed it in 26.3% of cases. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: Water safety knowledge gaps are notable for students who lack swimming lessons or speak a language other than English at home, suggesting a need for tailored approaches. Educators face challenges integrating water safety education into classroom learning, highlighting the need for resources and support.

conclusionsOngoing support and resources for teachers are essential to ensure all children develop essential water safety knowledge and skills.

Indexed as

DrowningHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeSafetyStudentsSwimmingAustraliaChildFemaleHealth EducationHumansMaleParentsSchoolsSurveys and Questionnaireschild safetydrowning preventionphysical educationprimary schoolschool curriculumwater safety education

Identifiers

PMID40899355
PMCPMC12669811

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.