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Academia Open
Medicine
DOI: 10.21070/acopen.9.2024.10369
Published: 2024-11-30

Teachers’ Knowledge Regarding First Aids: A Cross-Sectional Study


Pengetahuan Guru Mengenai Pertolongan Pertama: Sebuah Studi Cross-Sectional

Department of Basic Science, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
Iraq

(*) Corresponding Author

Teachers Knowledge First Aids

Abstract

Background:  In the Chain of Survival, proficiency in first aid is crucial, especially in large gatherings like schools where emergency health crises are more likely. Objective: This study's principal goals were to investigate primary school teachers' first aid knowledge and identify any correlations between their level of knowledge and the study's factors. Methods: In Basrah City, ten primary schools took part in a descriptive cross-sectional survey. This study was carried out between September 1, 2021, and the end of April 2022 in order to assess the teacher's first aid expertise. A chance (random) sample of 161 male and female educators from the ten schools was selected for the study. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. There are three portions to the survey. Six questions on the teachers' sociodemographic characteristics are asked in the first segment, and twelve questions concerning their acquaintance with the school's ambulance and first aid equipment are asked in the second section. The final component of the questionnaire asks 26 questions about the teachers' first aid knowledge. The data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20. Results: 10.6% are chemists, 26.1% are biologists, 14.9% have physical training, 19.3% are social scientists, 13% are English speakers, 16.1% speak Arabic, and 19.3% are social scientists. 51.4% had been employed for 5–10 years, 35.4% for 11–25 years, and 11.2% for over 26 years. Conclusion: revealed how well-informed the teachers were on first aid cabinets and ambulances, as evidenced by the fact that the mean scores for all items were more than 2.

Highlights:

  1. Teachers' first aid knowledge is crucial in emergency situations.
    Cross-sectional survey of 161 teachers using questionnaires.
    Teachers demonstrated moderate knowledge of first aid and equipment.

Keywords: Teachers, Knowledge, First Aids

Introduction

People encounter unexpected health or life dangers daily in a variety of settings. In these situations, the assistance of witnesses to the incident is crucial, as are their first aid experience and abilities, which raises the likelihood of a successful therapeutic outcome. According to available research, the odds of survival can rise by up to 70% if witnesses perform the proper rescue procedures and sudden cardiac arrest occurs [1].

Giving first aid is the act of an incident witness performing rescue procedures on a person who is suddenly in danger of harm or death, with the potential to use tangible items such as medical equipment and prescription medications. Regardless of the circumstance, anyone can administer first aid. It's also important to remember that in many nations, even witnesses are required by law to help an injured party. Every day, a large number of children and young people visit the school, which is an educational establishment. They might suffer from several illnesses, such as diabetes [2,3], epilepsy [4], respiratory conditions, or cardiovascular disorders [5]. Additionally, there is a rather high chance of bodily harm in schools because of the vast number of people there [6].

Teachers should exhibit a high level of expertise in administering first aid in a variety of health or life-threatening situations since they are both employees of educational institutions and have a legal duty to care for children. Depending on their knowledge and abilities, they will be able to provide their student or colleague with first aid in an emergency properly and efficiently, preventing significant health harm or death [7,8].

Methods

In ten Basra city primary schools, a descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. This study was conducted to evaluate the teacher's first aid knowledge from September 1, 2021, to the end of April, 2022. Ten elementary schools in Basrah city participated in the current investigation. For the study, a probability (random) sample of 161 male and female teachers from the ten schools was chosen.

For the study, a probability (random) sample of 161 male and female teachers from the ten schools was chosen. To gather data, a closed-ended questionnaire was employed. The survey is divided into three sections. The first section includes six questions about the sociodemographic traits of the teachers, and the second section includes twelve questions about the teachers' familiarity with the school's first aid kit and ambulance. The teacher's first aid knowledge is the subject of 26 questions in the third section of the questionnaire.

SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20 was used for the analysis, and frequency and percentage were used to express the data. The relationship between various variables was investigated using the mean of the scores.

Result and Discussion

Result

Variables Classes Frequency Percent
Sex Male 76 47.2%
Female 85 52.8%
Age 20-30 years 88 54.7%
31-40 years 44 27.3%
41 years and above 29 18.0%
Marital status Single 67 41.6%
Married 94 58.4%
Level of education Diploma 67 41.6%
College 73 45.3%
Post-graduate 21 13.0%
Specialty Arabic / Islamic 26 16.1%
Social studio 31 19.3%
English 21 13.0%
Chemistry/physics 17 10.6%
Biology 42 26.1%
Music/physical education 24 14.9%
Years of services 5-10 years 86 53.4%
11-25 years 57 35.4%
26 years and above 18 11.2%
Table 1. Teachers Demographic data

According to the table, there were 47.2% men and 52.8% women. 18% were older than 41, 27.3% were between the ages of 31 and 40, and 54.7% were between the ages of 20 and 30. Of the sample, 58.4% were married and 41.6% were single. In terms of educational attainment, 13% held a higher degree, 45.3% were university instructors, and 41.6% held a diploma.

16.1% of teachers are Arabic speakers, 19.3% are social scientists, 13% are English speakers, 10.6% are chemists, 26.1% are biologists, and 14.9% have physical training. In terms of years of employment, 51.4% had worked for 5–10 years, 35.4% for 11–25 years, and 11.2% for more than 26 years.

Question Yes no probably
F % F % F % Ms S
1 Does the teaching staff know the ambulance numbers? 113 16.1 36 22.4 12 7.5 2.6 S
2 When an emergency arises, are the school ambulance numbers posted? 40 78.3 113 70.2 8 5.0 2.2 S
3 Does the school have ambulance instructions? 26 0.0 132 82.0 3 1.9 2.1 S
4 If a kid is hurt in an accident, do you or the teaching staff know who to call? 65 0.0 96 59.6 0 0.0 2.4 S
5 Is there a first aid locker, box, or bag? 94 59.0 55 34.2 12 7.5 2.5 s
6 To ensure that they are always prepared to use any first aid kits, boxes, or lockers, are the equipment, their availability, validity, and renewal monitored? 39 42.9 112 69.6 10 6.2 2.2 s
7 Does everyone on the school staff know where the bag, locker, or box is located, and is it simple to open and use? 54 36.0 101 62.7 6 3.7 2.3 s
8 If a schoolboy is hurt, do you think it would be easy to locate all the items needed in the first aid locker? 52 19.9 96 59.6 13 8.1 2.2 s
9 Is your school equipped with all the necessary first aid supplies? 33 19.3 113 70.2 15 9.3 2.1 s
Table 2.assessment of the teachers' knowledge about each question

Except for the item about the forms of bleeding, the data indicated that teachers with negligible first-aid knowledge had a mean score of less than 2.

Discussion

The results of the study showed that 47.2% of the population was male, 52.8% was female, and 54.7% was in the 20–30 age range. These results are consistent with studies [9,10] which reveal that most of the study sample are between 22 to 30 years old. In addition, a survey conducted in Kerbala, Iraq, in 2019 found that 76% of the sample was between the ages of 30 and 49, with the majority (83%) being female and the remainder (17%) being male [11]. Furthermore, women made up 56% of the sample in a Saudi Arabian study conducted in 2019 [12].

According to the study's findings, the majority of the sample had a diploma or a university degree. The results of this study are consistent with studies [13,14,15] which reveal the majority of the sample were diplomas.

In a survey conducted in Iran at Kashan (2019), the bulk of the sample (83.2%) had years of experience greater than 10 years [16], with 53.4 percent having 5–10 years of work. Also, several studies consistent with the results of this study [17-20] reveal that most study samples had five to ten years of experience.

According to the study's findings, the sample under investigation knew very little about first aid. Approximately half of elementary school teachers in Iraq, according to a 2019 survey conducted in Kerbala, concur with these findings. [11]. Additionally, this finding is consistent with a 2019 Saudi Arabian study that found that just 19.6% of participants knew how to administer first aid [12]. Additionally, the findings of this study are consistent with a study [21] that found that the majority of teachers possess adequate first-aid knowledge.

Conclusion

The teachers knew a great deal about ambulances and first-aid kits. Most of the teachers were females. Most of the teachers' ages were between intervals (20 -30) years. Most of the teachers had diplomas

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