Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice about first aid among male school teachers and administrators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background

Children are more exposed to harm and have a higher risk. Teachers are facing many circumstances of students in schools, and this needs medical attention and perception of what to do.

Aim

To assess the levels of knowledge of teachers and school instructors that live in the city of Riyadh related to basic first-aid practices and some variables which influenced these levels of information.

Material and Methods

In this cross-sectional study which was conducted on teachers and school instructors in Riyadh, a questionnaire containing sociodemographic properties and the level of knowledge related to first-aid practices was applied under supervision. The level of perception was evaluated on a 25-point scale. This study was approved by the King Saud University School of Medicine.

Results

The mean score of knowledge about the first aid of the population was found to be 10.36. It was found that teachers who have good knowledge of first aid (≥15 out of 25 points) are 14.9% (N = 65). Also, it was found that first-aid scores of knowledge showed a significant difference in age and having received first-aid training.

Conclusions

We concluded that most of the teachers show weak knowledge of first aid and inappropriate response for common emergency scenarios. Also, the teachers who have training for first aid has a higher likelihood to respond better in those given scenarios, but the majority of the sample have not received any training to deal with those scenarios. We recommend that teachers must undergo a first-aid training program.

Mass Gathering Medicine New discipline to Deal with Epidemic and Infectious Diseases in the Hajj Among Muslim Pilgrimage: A Mini Review Article

Mass Gathering Medicine is one of the new disciplines in Medicine which deal with all health aspects in overcrowded areas. Mass Gathering Medicine is an important new challenging discipline which needs to be supported by all concern experts such as the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ministries of health from all countries, universities, research centers, and all other experts in this field. Scientist and academic staffs from all countries should be encouraged to participate in narrowing the gap of knowledge for Mass Gathering Medicine. Postgraduate board or fellowship certificate should be encouraged internationally.

Blood pressure status during consultation: a primary care study

INTRODUCTION

Blood pressure control needs to be assessed at a primary care level, which is the first contact with patients.

AIMS

To evaluate blood pressure readings among patients visiting a primary care clinic at a teaching university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary care clinic at the King Khalid University Hospital from April to September 2013. Blood pressure readings were measured by trained nurses working in a primary care clinic during patients' visits.

RESULTS

The study showed that only 33.6 % of participants had a normal blood pressure reading, and 49.3 % of participants were diagnosed as hypertensive patients. The study showed that 74.7 % do not exercise, and 45 % have high stress levels in their life.

CONCLUSION

Uncontrolled blood pressure was common at this hospital-based primary care clinic, so it is recommended to educate primary care physicians to take care of blood pressure management and to educate and encourage patients about non-pharmacological advice like losing weight and coping with stress.

Cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees visiting primary care clinics

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to highlight cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees attending a primary care clinic, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was conducted from Januaryto February 2013 at Primary Care Clinics of King Khalid University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All retired attendees were interviewed by family physician, and their duration of retirement was determined. Their cardiovascular risk factors were confirmed from their medical records. The cardiovascular risk factors included history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking. Their weight and height were recorded during the consultation and Body Mass Index was calculated to decide about those classified as obesity ≥ 30 All data were entered and analyzed using statistical package of social science SPSS version 17 software.

RESULTS

The present study showed that 19.5% of retired attendees presenting at primary care clinic were early retired before the age of 60 years, while 80.5% were normally retired. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors showed: Hypertension among 73% attendees, Diabetes Mellitus in 67%, dyslipidemia in 71%, Obesity 29%, and Smoking 13% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees of a primary care clinic are common, and need to be taken in to priority consideration while improving the health care of retired people.

How can Saudi Arabia use the Decade of Action for Road Safety to catalyse road traffic injury prevention policy and interventions?

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults worldwide. Nearly three-quarters of road deaths occur in developing countries and men comprise a mean 80% of casualties. The rate of road traffic accidents caused by four-wheeled vehicles is the highest globally reported road traffic accidents statistic. In Saudi Arabia, the motor vehicle is the main means of transportation with one person killed and four injured every hour. Over 65% of accidents occur because of vehicles travelling at excess speed and/or drivers disobeying traffic signals. Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to victims, their families, and to nations as a whole. Strategic prevention plans should be implemented soon by various sectors (health, police, transport, and education) to decrease the mortality and morbidity among adolescent and young age group. Strong and effective coordination between ministry of health and other ministries together with World Health Organization and other related organisations will be an important step towards implementing the international Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020). The aim of this review article is to highlight some aspects of the health impacts of road traffic accidents.