Knowledge attitude and practices of undergraduate students regarding first aid measures.
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.
Khan
Afrasyab
A
The Aga Khan University, Medical College, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shaikh
Sumaira
S
Shuaib
Fawad
F
Sattar
Ahsan
A
Samani
Saira Aziz
SA
Shabbir
Quratulain
Q
Rasheed
Ameer Zaighum
AZ
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