Knowledge of First Aid Skills among Medical and Non-Medical Students of Karachi

  • Nazeer Khan, Professor Jinnah Sindh Medical University
  • Tariq Rafi, Professor Jinnah Sindh Medical University
  • Paras Yousuf, Dr Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre
  • Sehrish Rafiq, Dr Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre
  • Ufaq Rasool, Dr Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre
  • Amna Abid, Dr Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre
Keywords: First Aid, medical and non-medical colleges, FA training, knowledge

Abstract

Objective: To compare the level of knowledge of First Aid (FA) among medical and non-medical undergraduate students of Karachi

Methodology: This study was conducted in October and November 2017. One thousand fifty-three students of the age range of 17-25 years from the first-year to the fourth-year from three medical and three non-medical institutions were included. A self-administered questionnaire containing 22 questions was distributed among the consenting students in the class rooms. Participants were assessed regarding their knowledge on common emergency situations like epistaxis, fractures, road traffic accidents, foreign body in the eyes/ears, fits, burns, asthma, shock etc. Univariate test of Chi-square was applied to determine the association of type of students and previous training of First Aid with other independent factors. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression was utilized to determine best possible model for estimation of FA knowledge.

Results: Out of 1053 respondents, 521 were medical and 532 were non-medical students. Medical students showed significantly higher knowledge in all the nineteen questions of first aid as compared to non-medical students, except the knowledge of the priorities of treatment (TRIAGE). Mean number of correct answers from medical and non-medical respondents were 9.82 ± 3.35 and 5.6 ± 2.07, respectively. Only 20.6% of the students showed good knowledge. Twenty percent students reported that they had attended a First Aid (FA) seminar/workshop. Among them 149 (28.6%) were medical and 66 (12.4%) were non-medical students. The model developed by linear regression for knowledge of FA consisted of type of institution (medical/non-medical), FA training, universities, years of study, and age. Regression coefficient showed that type of institution and FA training increase FA knowledge by more than double. Eighty percent of the respondents indicated that FA training should be the part of the curriculum.

Conclusion: Study showed that the knowledge of undergraduate students of Karachi institutions is not satisfactory, and therefore needs further enhancement, especially in non-medical students. Regression analysis showed that medical education and FA training doubles, while increase in age negatively affects the FA knowledge.

Author Biographies

Sehrish Rafiq, Dr, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre

House Officer

Ufaq Rasool, Dr, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre

House Officer

Amna Abid, Dr, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre

House Officer

References

Joseph N, Kumar GS, Babu YPR, Nelliyanil M, Bhaskaran U. Knowledge of First Aid Skills Among Students of a Medical College in Mangalore City of South India. Ann Med Health Sc Res. 2014; 4(2): 162- 166

Khatatbeh M. First Aid Knowledge among University Students in Jordan. Int J Prevent Med.2017;7:24

Alhejaili AS, Alsubhi SA. Knowledge and Attitude of First Aid Skills among Health Science Students at Taibah University. J Gen Practice 2016, 4:3

Khan A., Shaikh S., Shuaib F., Sattar A, Samani, S, Shabbir Q, Rasheed, A. Knowledge attitude and practices of undergraduate students regarding first aid measures. J Pak Med Assoc, 2010;60(1), 68-72

Altintas KH, Aslan D, Yildiz AN, Subasi N, Elçin M, Odabasi O, Bilir N, Sayek I. The Evaluation of First Aid and Basic Life Support Training for the First Year University Students. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2005; 205(2):157-69

Gore CA, Sankar S, Sheriff S, Smrithika SA, Maiya S. A study on knowledge regarding first aid among undergraduate medical students. Int J Community Med Public Health.2017:4(7):2555-2557

Al-Musa HM, Bharti RK, Alsamghan SA, Asiri M, Alqahtani MS, Al-qahtani D, Al-Malwi F, Asiri A, Al jobran B, Al-malwi K. Knowledge of First Aid Skills among Medical Students in King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. People’s J Sc Res. 2017; 10, (1): 1-6

Abbas A, Bukhari SI, Ahmad F. Knowledge of first aid and basic life support amongst medical students: a comparison between trained and un-trained students. J Pak Med Assoc 2011; 61:613-6

Abbasi-Kangevari M, Kolahi AA, Farsar AR, Kermaniranjbar S. Public Awareness, Attitudes, and First-Aid Measures on Epilepsy in Tehran. Iran J Child Neurol. Winter 2019; 13(1): 91-106

Pei L, Liang F, Sun S, Wang H, Dou H. Nursing students’ knowledge, willingness, and attitudes toward the first aid behavior as bystanders in traffic accident trauma: A cross-sectional survey. Inter J Nursing Sc 2019; 6: 65-69

Subedi N, Paudel IS, Khadka A, Shrestha U, Mallik VB, Ankur KC. Knowledge of first aid methods and attitude about snake bite among medical students: a cross sectional observational study. J Occupational Med Toxicology 2018; 13:26-32

Parnell MM, Pearson J, Galletly DC, Larsen PD. Knowledge of and attitudes towards resuscitation in New Zealand high-school students. Emerg Med J 2006; 23:899–902. doi: 10.1136/emj.2006.041160

Devashish AR, Gaurav JD, Bharat B. Assessment of Knowledge and Practices of First Aid among the School Teachers of Vadodara City. Indian J Res Rep Med Sc| 2013:3(4):21-23

Ganfure G, Ameya G, Tamirat A, Lencha B, Bikila D. First aid knowledge, attitude, practice, andassociated factors among kindergarten teachers of Lideta sub-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 2018; 13(3): e0194263

Baºer M, Coban S, Taºci S, Sungur G, Bayat M. Evaluating first-aid knowledge and attitudes of a sample of Turkish primary school teachers. J Emerg Nurs. 2007;33(5):428-32

Midani O, Tillawi T, Saqer A, Hammami MB, Taifour H, Mohammad H. Knowledge and attitude toward first aid: A cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates. Avicenna J Med. 2019; 9(1): 1–7

Eckland BK. Social Class and College Graduation: Some Misconceptions Corrected. Am J Sociology. 1964; 70(1):36-50

Published
2020-02-24
How to Cite
Khan, N., Rafi, T., Yousuf, P., Rafiq, S., Rasool, U., & Abid, A. (2020). Knowledge of First Aid Skills among Medical and Non-Medical Students of Karachi. Annals of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, 5(2), 63-70. Retrieved from https://ajsmu.com/index.php/AJSMU/article/view/73