Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude Regarding First Aid Management of Road Traffic Accidents among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are significant public health and developmental crisis. RTAs are chief cause ofmorbidity and mortality globally.First aid management enhances the rate of survival among victims of RTAs.Objectives: To determine the knowledge and attitude regarding first aid management of road traffic accidents (RTAs) amongmedical students.Material and methods: A cross sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Jinnah Sindh Medical University andAffiliated Medical college of JSMU(Karachi) during the period of August to November 2018. A total of 162 MBBS students wereincludedinthis study. Questionnaire was designedto assess knowledge and attitude of first aid management of RTAs and effectiveways that are beneficial in creating mass awareness regarding first aid management of RTAs. Questionnaire was consisted ofdemographic data, open and close ended questions.Results: 110(67.89%) students had knowledge of first aid management in RTAs. Nearly 112(69.13%) students were aware ofbasic components of first aid management in RTAs. Only 56(34.56%) students considered it significant to attend RTA during clinicalpostings.Conclusion: Knowledge of medical students was deficient in few fundamental areas of first aid management in RTAs. Majority ofmedical students were well aware ofthe significance of first aidmanagement in RTAs.Attitude of medical students in cases of RTAswas inadequate (p-value=0.008).Keywords: First aid management, road traffic accidents, knowledge, attitude, medical students, curriculum.