Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice on first aid management of choking and associated factors among kindergarten teachers in Addis Ababa governmental schools, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional institution-based study

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward first aid management of choking hazards among Eastern Province Saudi adults: an observational study

Background and aim

Childhood choking is a global health concern that mainly affects children under the age of 5 years. The parent's and caretaker's responsibility is critical in the children's lives and can potentially influence the result of at-home injuries such as choking. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors of first aid management toward choking hazards among Saudi adults from the Eastern Province.

Methods

The present analytical study was carried out among 390 Saudi adults attending different primary health centers in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. We used a standard and validated data research topic tool to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice. Spearman's correlation was applied to determine the correlation between each section, while binomial logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the associated factors.

Results

We observed knowledge, attitude, and practice scores in 43.3, 38.9, and 36.4% of the participants, respectively. Furthermore, positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (rho = 0.42, p = 0.001), between knowledge and practice (rho = 0.57, p = 0.001), and between attitude and practice (rho = 0.41, p = 0.001) were revealed in our survey. The knowledge of the participants was significantly higher with the age group of 30-40 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.67 (1.94-4.65), p = 0.001] and participants who received training in first aid management [AOR = 1.64 (1.12-2.49), p = 0.037]. This study found that males [AOR = 0.36 (0.21-0.63), p = 0.001] and those working in the private sector [AOR = 0.61 (0.31-0.87), p = 0.018] had significantly lower attitudes.

Conclusion

Our results underscore the importance of continuous health education initiatives and training courses at primary health care centers regarding first aid management of choking hazards to improve awareness and practices. Furthermore, we recommend prospective multicenter studies to address region-specific knowledge gaps.

Knowledge and misconceptions of choking and first-aid procedures among Syrian adults: A cross-sectional study

Background

Choking is a critical emergency that occurs when foreign objects obstruct the airways. It commonly affects young children, older people, individuals with developmental disabilities, those with acquired or lifelong disability, and those with mental health conditions. Symptoms can vary, ranging from coughing to cyanosis.

Aim

Our study aims to evaluate Syrian adults' knowledge of choking and their understanding of first-aid procedures. Specifically, we will assess the prevalence of misconceptions in order to train community members and increase their level of knowledge about first aid for choking. Ultimately, our goal is to reduce deaths resulting from this critical condition.

Methods

This cross-sectional study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding choking among adults in Syria. The targeted population consists of Syrians aged between 18 and 45 years who reside in Syria. Data were collected through an online survey, disseminated via social media platforms from March to July 2022. Scores were computed to quantify levels of knowledge, with participants achieving a score of 16 or higher classified as having a high level of knowledge. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and chi-square tests.

Results

A total of 406 responded to the survey, with 246 (60.6%) scoring less than 16 points, indicating a low level of knowledge. Gender and place of residency were not correlated with knowledge level p = 0.249, p = 0.913, respectively). Participants employed in the medical field, those who had received training in first aid, and individuals with higher levels of education exhibited higher levels of knowledge. However, the level of knowledge was below expectations for these groups.

Conclusion

There should be an increase in the availability of first-aid courses to the public and improvements in hands-on training for physicians and medical trainees.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of First Aid Management of Choking Among Primary School Teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Understanding first aid is crucial for immediate intervention during health emergencies, with choking representing a significant danger, particularly for young children. Obstructed airways commonly lead to choking incidents, carrying substantial risks if not swiftly dealt with. This research endeavors to evaluate the comprehension, perspectives, and implementation of first aid measures for choking incidents among primary school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an area of paramount importance with minimal existing research within this particular demographic.

METHODOLOGY

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from the beginning of July till the end of October 2023, among 447 primary school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data collection was carried out by administering a questionnaire through an online platform. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge about signs and symptoms of choking, the attitude of participants, participant's practice, and the relationship between the knowledge level about choking and practice. The data collected were reviewed, coded, and then fed into IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29 (Released 2023; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).  Results: Our study on first aid management of choking among primary school teachers highlighted significant findings. Participants demonstrated high awareness of choking signs with 386 (86.3%) recognizing universal signs and 330 (73.8%) claiming proficiency in first aid. Attitudes favored the importance of immediate treatment in 394 participants (88.1%) and the necessity of first aid knowledge for teachers (92.2%). One-hundred and fifty-one participants (33.8%) reported performing choking first aid with 328 (73.4%) opting for the Heimlich maneuver for a six-year-old. Significantly, higher knowledge correlated with increased first aid performance (p < 0.001) and support for mandatory training (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates a higher knowledge level in primary school teachers with positive attitudes and practices regarding choking first aid management. It underscores the importance of enhancing first aid training among primary school teachers, emphasizing its positive impact on choking management and the necessity of immediate intervention in such cases.

Teacher Preparedness for Medical Emergencies in Belgian Classrooms: Studying Objective and Subjective First-Aid Knowledge

About one in seven accidents involving children occurs at school. Roughly 70% of these accidents involve children under the age of 12 years. Thus, primary school teachers may be confronted with accidents where first aid could improve the outcome. Despite the importance of first-aid knowledge among teachers, little is known about this topic. To fill this gap, we conducted case-based survey research on the objective and subjective first-aid knowledge of primary school and kindergarten teachers in Flanders, Belgium. An online survey was distributed to primary school and kindergarten teachers. It included 14 hypothetical first-aid scenarios in a primary school context to assess objective knowledge, along with one item to assess subjective knowledge. A total of 361 primary school and kindergarten teachers completed the questionnaire. The participants achieved an average knowledge score of 66%. Those who had completed a first-aid course had significantly higher scores. Knowledge regarding child CPR was amongst the lowest, with only 40% correct answers. Structural equation modeling showed that only previous first-aid training, recent experience with first aid, and subjective first-aid knowledge were linked to teachers’ objective first-aid knowledge—particularly for basic first aid. This study shows that completing a first-aid course and completing a refresher course can predict objective first-aid knowledge. We therefore recommend that first-aid training and regular refresher courses should be mandatory in teacher training, given that a large share of teachers may need to apply first aid to a pupil at some point during their career.

Development and Application of AR-Based Assessment System for Infant Airway Obstruction First Aid Training

Airway obstruction refers to suffocation caused by blockage of the airway due to a foreign body and is a common cause of accidental death in infants below one year of age. However, the current infant CPR manikins used for training in first aid for foreign body airway obstruction can only be applied to one single scenario. Furthermore, trainees' first aid skills cannot be recorded and quantified with a digital system and, consequently, assessment of their skills is difficult to conduct. This study aims to overcome the technical limitations by developing an AR-based assessment system for training in first aid for infant airway obstruction. With this assessment system, trainees can learn first aid more efficiently and correctly and conduct a quantitative assessment of their skills digitally. For instructors, the time required for assessment, potential human error, and the cost of training can also be reduced. The system can be a practical learning tool that helps trainees assess emergencies and integrate their knowledge and skills.