Document Type

Article

Department

Emergency Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess knowledge, attitude and practices of first aid measures in undergraduate students of Karachi.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at six colleges of Karachi, three of which were medical colleges and three non-medical colleges. Knowledge was assessed regarding various emergency situations with the help of a questionnaire. The target population size was 460, based on 50% prevalence and 95% confidence interval. The eventual sample size achieved was 446.

RESULTS: A total of 446 students were interviewed. Seventy eight students (17.5%) had formal First Aid (FA) training. The mean number of correct answers of students with FA training was 10.3 (+/- 3.5) as opposed to 8.58 (+/- 4.0) in those without FA training (p < 0.001, 95% CI) with a mean difference of 7.84%. The mean number of correct answers by medical students with FA training was 11.2 (+/- 2.9) as opposed to 7.2 (+/- 3.43) by non-medical students (p < 0.001, 95% CI) with a mean difference of 18.14%. Students having received formal first aid training scored better than those who had not (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: First aid training programmes should be introduced at school and college level in developing countries to decrease the early mortality and morbidity of accidents and emergencies.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association

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