title: Knowledge attitude and practices of undergraduate students regarding first aid measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: The Aga Khan University, Medical College, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Afrasyab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shuaib
authors.forename: Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: Saira Aziz
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Samani
authors.forename: Quratulain
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shabbir
authors.forename: Ameer Zaighum
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Rasheed
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult