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Burn first aid knowledge and its determinants among general population of Rawalpindi

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To assess the general knowledge and practices related to burn first aid treatment (BFAT) and to examine age, gender, socioeconomic status, education and previous history of exposure to burn (self/family member) as factors influencing burn first aid knowledge among the general population of Rawalpindi.

Study design

A cross-sectional, descriptive survey.

Place and duration of study

Three major tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi, from August 2017 to May 2018.

Methodology

All consenting people ≥ 18 years of age, with or without a prior history of burn, accompanying patients to three major tertiary care centers of Rawalpindi were administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into two sections; socio-demographic section and knowledge on BFAT. Those who were illiterate and could not fill the questionnaire were interviewed and their responses were marked by the researchers themselves. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results

A total of 400 participants comprising 205 (51.3%) males and 195 (48.8%) females with a mean age of 38 ± 10.3 years were included. The majority (58%) were educated up to 12th grade or higher. “Toothpaste” (47.5%) followed by “cool running water” (20.3%) were the two most frequently applied items following a burn injury. Only 8.8% respondents applied cold water for the ideal time duration. Overall, 83% of the participants provided correct answers for 25–50% of the survey questions. Socioeconomic and educational status of the participants had a significant association with burn first aid knowledge.

Conclusion

A significant limitation of knowledge regarding BFAT was seen among the general population of Rawalpindi.

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Funding

None to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, India

    Sanjay Kumar Mishra

  2. m-1/108, Gulmohar Enclave, Ghaziabad, 201001, India

    Sanjay Kumar Mishra

  3. Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Shafaq Mahmood

  4. House# 104, EGQ, St# E-1, New Gulzar-e-Quaid, Aiport Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Shafaq Mahmood

  5. Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ashfaq Baig

  6. House# 855/85, ST#3, Bismillah Colony, Khanewal Road, Multan, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ashfaq Baig

Authors
  1. Sanjay Kumar Mishra
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  2. Shafaq Mahmood
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  3. Muhammad Ashfaq Baig
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Contributions

Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work: Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Shafaq Mahmood, Muahmmad Ashfaq Baig. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content: Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Shafaq Mahmood, Muhammad Ashfaq Baig. Final approval of the version to be published: Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Shafaq Mahmood, Muhammad Ashfaq Baig. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Shafaq Mahmood, Muhammad Ashfaq Baig.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shafaq Mahmood.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

The abstract has not been presented or published in a conference, or published in an abstract book. The manuscript has not been published previously (partly or in full). No data have been fabricated or manipulated (including images) to support our conclusions.

Appendix

Appendix

Questionnaire for burn first aid knowledge and its determinants among general population of Rawalpindi.

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Mishra, S.K., Mahmood, S. & Baig, M.A. Burn first aid knowledge and its determinants among general population of Rawalpindi. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 45, 1121–1128 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-018-0996-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-018-0996-6

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