The evaluation of health workers' knowledge levels about first aid working at primary health care units in Samsun

Abstract

First aid is the initial and immediate care given to a victim outside the hospital environment, with the purpose of assuring life and avoiding worsening conditions until he/she received qualified assistance. True application of first aid may increase the success of a treatment that will be given at a hospital and decrease the deaths by 20%. The aim of this study was to determine theoretical knowledge in lifesaving first aid among health workers at primary health care units in Samsun. A questionnaire consisted of 15 questions was applied to 172 health workers working at primary health care units in Samsun face to face to obtain their knowledge about the aim of first aid, assesment of the victim, cardiorespiratory resuscitation, poisoning, burns, wounds, epilepsy, hemorrhages and the transportation of the victim. Of the participants, 87.2% and 91.8% had an education about first aid and knew the aim of first aid, respectively. Their knowledge about assesment of the victim, poisoning, burns, hemorrhages and the transportation of the victim was found adequate but insufficient about cardiorespiratory resuscitation and approach to a patient with epileptic fit. The answers that health workers gave to the principles of first aid were found generally true, but their knowledge about cardiorespiratory systems wasn't determined as desirable.