Awareness of Burn Injury Prevention and First Aid Management Among Adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries represent a significant public health concern, with the effectiveness of preventive measures and first aid largely dependent on public knowledge. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness of burn injury prevention and first aid management among adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to adults in Jazan using a structured questionnaire. The survey assessed participants' knowledge of burn causes, preventive strategies, and first aid practices. Responses were analyzed to gauge the level of awareness and identify gaps in knowledge. RESULTS: Among the participants (n = 400), 71.3% (n = 285) recognized hot liquids as a primary burn hazard, 27.4% (n = 109) identified electricity, 97.0% (n = 388) cited fire, and 53.8% (n = 215) acknowledged chemicals. In terms of preventive measures, 61.6% (n = 246) understood the importance of following manufacturer safety guidelines, 78.8% (n = 315) knew to keep chemicals out of children's reach, 72.4% (n = 289) were aware of the need to wear gloves, and 61.6% (n = 246) recognized the necessity of avoiding the storage of unnecessary chemicals. For first aid practices, 91.8% (n = 367) knew to use water, 50.8% (n = 203) would seek medical attention, 22.6% (n = 90) would cover burns, and 20.3% (n = 81) considered pain management important. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate a strong awareness among adults in Jazan regarding burn injury causes, prevention, and first aid practices. Despite this, gaps remain in specific first-aid responses and comprehensive safety measures. Targeted educational initiatives could address these gaps and enhance burn injury prevention and management.

Knowledge and Awareness of the First Aid Management of Foreign Body Aspiration in Children Among the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the level of awareness and knowledge regarding the first aid management of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children among various demographic groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 500 participants. The survey included questions about demographic information and knowledge of FBA management. The data were analyzed to identify significant differences in awareness levels based on gender, age, nationality, educational background, occupational status, and marital status. RESULTS: The study found significant differences in awareness levels across various demographic groups. Females (80.2%) demonstrated higher awareness compared to males (71.5%), with a significant p-value of 0.035. Participants aged 30-39 years had the highest awareness (83.6%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.057). Nationality did not significantly affect awareness levels. However, educational background showed variations, with postgraduate degree holders having somewhat lower awareness (65.9%) compared to bachelor's degree holders (78.1%), though this difference was not significant (p=0.271). Occupational status had a significant impact, with military personnel displaying the highest awareness (100%) and business professionals the lowest (67.7%), with a significant p-value of 0.009. Marital status also influenced awareness, with married individuals showing higher awareness (82.8%) compared to single (74.4%) and divorced (65.5%) individuals, with a significant p-value of 0.040. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the need for targeted educational programs to enhance first aid knowledge across different demographic groups. By addressing gaps in awareness through comprehensive training, especially among groups with lower awareness levels, we can improve the general population's ability to manage FBA incidents effectively, thereby reducing associated morbidity and mortality in children.

Twenty Years of International Research on First Aid: A Bibliometric Visualization of Scientific Outputs.

Although first aid research is a wide-ranging and diverse field within medical science, so far no attempts have been made to provide a holistic view of international scientific outputs in the first aid domain. To determine strategic directions for conducting future studies, it is important to understand the status of the research, including its frontiers and blind spots. This study explored the global landscape of first aid research using bibliometric visualization analysis of relevant literature published within the last 20 years. The search yielded a total of 2,057 relevant papers. There was a trend of increasing annual numbers of publications throughout the 20 year period. The following topics were identified as the mainstream directions of first aid research: cross-sectional studies on attitudes and knowledge of first aid; cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; bleeding and hemorrhage control; burns, scalds, and their management; envenomations and their management; and systematic evaluation of the scientific evidence. Evidence evaluation is one of the main frontiers of first aid research. Studies concerning first aid for the most common and deadliest diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, are not in the scope of contemporary international first aid research. Considering that effective implementation of first aid can reduce morbidity and mortality, it is advisable to advance research on first aid management of major emergencies that are the most common potentially avoidable causes of death.

Knowledge on First Aid Management of Epistaxis among Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Epistaxis, a global Otorhinolaryngology emergency, often requires hospital admission, posing health concerns for all ages. Evaluating medical students' knowledge helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring future healthcare providers are well-prepared. Our study aimed to assess knowledge on first add management of epistaxis among medical students of a medical college. METHODS: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among medical students in Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital after ethical approval was obtained. Data was collected electronically using google form from 109 medical students from 15 January 2024 to 15 March 2024. RESULTS: The mean age of students was 20.71±1.44 years. The mean knowledge score of first aid management of epistaxis was 11.33± 5.24. Out of all students, 68 (62.38%) students had above-average knowledge on first aid management of epistaxis. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the varied knowledge levels among first and second-semester medical students regarding epistaxis. While more than half demonstrated above-average understanding, targeted educational interventions are warranted.

Supporting clinicians post exposure to potentially traumatic events: Emergency department peer support program evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Workers in EDs are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been exponential interest in peer support programs (PSPs) in a range of settings. We describe a PSP implemented in 2017 at University Hospital Geelong (UHG) ED together with results of a survey. METHODS: To describe the program such that others can replicate it in their settings in addition to feedback evaluation. Method involved a survey emailed to the ED doctors. RESULTS: Thirty responses from 96 emails with a range of feedback. CONCLUSION: ED Doctors place high value on the PSP.

Association between compound extreme weather event types and the spectrum of emergency ambulance calls: A metropolitan study in Shenzhen.

BACKGROUND: Compound extreme weather events, a combination of weather and climate drivers that lead to potentially high-impact events, are becoming more frequent with climate change. The number of emergency ambulance calls (EACs) is expected to increase during compound extreme weather events. However, the extent of these increases and the trends over time have not been fully assessed. METHODS: We obtained 242,165 EAC records for Shenzhen from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023. A compound extreme weather event was defined as the occurrence of at least two extreme weather events on the same day. A distributed lag non-linear model was used to explore the exposure-response and lag-response relationships between various compound extreme weather events and all-cause and specific-cause EACs. FINDING: Compound Cold & Strong Monsoon events had more significant impacts on EACs for all causes and endocrine diseases, with the cumulative relative risk (CRR) of 1.401 (95% confidence interval (CI):1.290-1.522) and 1.641 (95% CI:1.279-2.105). Compound Heat Wave & Lightning events had more obvious impacts on digestive disease and endocrine disease EACs, with the CRRs of 1.185 (95% CI:1.041-1.348) and 1.278 (95% CI:0.954-1.711), respectively. Compound Rainstorm & Lightning & Heat Wave events also led to increased RRs of EACs for all causes (CRR: 1.168, 95% CI:1.012-1.348), cardiovascular diseases (CRR: 1.221, 95% CI:0.917-1.624), digestive diseases (CRR: 1.395, 95% CI:1.130-1.721), and endocrine diseases (CRR: 1.972, 95% CI:1.235-3.149). There was no increased RR in the compound Rainstorm & Lightning events for all types of EACs. INTERPRETATION: Our study explored the relationship between EACs and compound extreme weather events, suggesting that compound extreme weather events are associated with the acute onset of cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, and endocrine diseases, increasing the burden on emergency ambulance resources for both all causes and specific diseases mentioned above.

Assessing the Feasibility of Using Parents' Social Media Conversations to Inform Burn First Aid Interventions: Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Burns are common childhood injuries, which can lead to serious physical and psychological outcomes. Appropriate first aid is essential in managing the pain and severity of these injuries; hence, parents who need timely access to such information often seek it from the web. In particular, social media allow them to reach other parents, hence these conversations may provide insight to aid the design and evaluation of burn first aid interventions for parents. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the feasibility of finding, accessing, and analyzing parent burn first aid conversations on social media to inform intervention research. METHODS: The initial choice of the relevant social media was made based on the results of a parent focus group and survey. We considered Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc), Mumsnet (Mumsnet Limited), Netmums (Aufeminin Group), Twitter (subsequently rebranded as "X"; X Corp), Reddit (Reddit, Inc), and YouTube (Google LLC). To locate the relevant data on these platforms, we collated a taxonomy of search terms and designed a search strategy. A combination of natural language processing and manual inspection was used to filter out irrelevant data. The remaining data were analyzed manually to determine the length of conversations, the number of participants, the purpose of the initial post (eg, asking for or offering advice), burn types, and distribution of relevant keywords. RESULTS: Facebook parenting groups were not accessed due to privacy, and public influencer pages yielded scant data. No relevant data were found on Reddit. Data were collected from Mumsnet, Netmums, YouTube, and Twitter. The amount of available data varied across these platforms and through time. Sunburn was identified as a topic across all 4 platforms. Conversations on the parenting forums Mumsnet and Netmums were started predominantly to seek advice (112/116, 96.6% and 25/25, 100%, respectively). Conversely, YouTube and Twitter were used mainly to provide advice (362/328, 94.8% and 126/197, 64%, respectively). Contact burns and sunburn were the most frequent burn types discussed on Mumsnet (30/94, 32% and 23/94, 25%, respectively) and Netmums (2/25, 8% and 14/26, 56%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a suite of bespoke search strategies, tailored to a range of social media platforms, for the extraction and analysis of burn first aid conversation data. Our methodology provides a template for other topics not readily accessible via a specific search term or hashtag. YouTube and Twitter show potential utility in measuring advice offered before and after interventions and extending the reach of messaging. Mumsnet and Netmums present the best opportunity for informing burn first aid intervention design via an in-depth qualitative investigation into parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Administration of Burns First Aid Treatment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in community settings.

OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates Burn First Aid Treatment (BFAT) provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia at the scene of injury using data from a population-based cohort study. STUDY DESIGN: The participants were 208 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged < 16 years who sustained a burns injury between 2015-2018, and their carers. The primary outcome measure was gold standard BFAT, (defined as at least 20 min of cool, running water within 3 h of the injury); additional measures included type of first aid, length of first aid provided, and carer's knowledge of first aid. RESULTS: Of the 208 caregivers, 168 provided open-ended responses that indicated first aid was applied to their child; however, only 34 received gold standard BFAT at the scene of the injury, 110 did not receive correct BFAT, and 24 were unsure what first aid was applied. CONCLUSION: This study highlights an important need for communities to have access to appropriate evidence-based and co-designed BFAT education and training.

Psychological first aid in operation for military healthcare providers : a study on pre-deployment training.

INTRODUCTION: During operational missions, while the management of physical injuries in the field remains the priority, the identification of operational incapacity of psychological origin is necessary as it is equally crucial for the safety of the individual, the group and the mission. The French Military Health Service has developed a Psychological First Aid Training in Operation (PFATO) course based on relational simulations, for military service members. The aim is to identify the early signs of psychological distress in a comrade and to adopt an adapted and protective attitude. PFATO training is also offered to healthcare providers. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire which was sent after deployment to all physicians or nurses trained in PFATO between July 2019 and July 2021 (n=80). The main objective of our work was to evaluate the relevance of this awareness training among physicians and nurses and to identify specific complementary expectations in operational psychiatry for this population. RESULTS: We obtained a response rate of 55%. Significantly, 21.62% of participants used PFATO during their last deployment and another 20% observed a team member using PFATO. The circumstances of use as reported by participants included acute stress related to combat, conflict with hierarchy or comrades, and suicidal crisis. Among those who used PFATO, the training helped 87.5% of them to identify signs of psychological distress and 100% of them to assist combatants . All respondents stressed the added value of practical simulations during PFATO education. Moreover, this study also makes it possible to identify adaptations needed to optimize this module for healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: The results suggest the value for healthcare provider of training in first-response psychological care using relational simulation based on the model of raising awareness about PFATO.

Improving Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Among the Hmong.

BACKGROUND: One in five adults in the United States suffers from mental illness. Negative social influences in the Hmong community stigmatize those who have mental health challenges and mental health outcomes are impacted by poor mental health literacy. Language barriers, conflicting traditional beliefs, and Western concepts of health contribute to low mental health literacy and willingness to seek professional mental health services among the Hmong. AIMS: The aim of this project was to successfully implement Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to a group of 30 or more Hmong adult church leaders in a faith-based setting. METHODS: A pretest posttest project design was used. The project implementation process was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model and took place from June 2023 to August 2023. Participants were recruited from three local Detroit Hmong churches. Indicator measures included the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness (CAMI) Scale before and immediately after training. One final survey was administered at 6 weeks post MHFA training to measure information retention, stigma, and utilization of MHFA skills. RESULTS: Results reflect the existing body of literature regarding MHFA and the positive impacts on mental health literacy, confidence level, mental health awareness, and decreasing stigma. CONCLUSION: MHFA continues to demonstrate successful implementation across many settings and populations, especially for this project among Hmong adult church leaders. More research is needed to expand on mental health and the Hmong.

Awareness of school teachers about students common emergencies during school time in the eastern region, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Schools have to ensure student safety and well-being. However, medical emergencies involving injuries are common, requiring teachers to provide prompt first aid before professional care arrives. This study assessed knowledge and awareness of first aid among school teachers to identify areas needing improvement. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 371 teachers from the eastern region primary schools using a standardized questionnaire assessing first aid knowledge across areas like bleeding control, fractures, seizures, choking, and burns. Demographic factors were analyzed for correlations with knowledge levels. Pearson's Chi-square tests analyzed bivariate relationships comparing correct knowledge identification percentages across teacher sociodemographic. The level of statistical significance was at a P value <0.05 across tests. Results: Only 157 teachers felt able to appropriately handle medical emergencies. Major knowledge gaps existed regarding airway obstruction and chemical injuries, with 168 unable to identify correct responses for choking first aid and 105 unsure of chemical burn management steps. Appropriate fracture management was lacking, with just 70 correctly endorsing nose pinch for nosebleeds. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge was inadequate, with 57 of teachers unaware of the basics. Teachers demonstrating higher knowledge levels overwhelmingly had prior first aid training (153, 66.5%) compared to untrained counterparts (89, 63.1%). Conclusion: The study revealed poor first aid knowledge among elementary school teachers for effectively managing child emergencies. Strategies enhancing delivery must address barriers around training access, knowledge attrition, and variability in baseline skills through sustainable system-wide policies applied nationally. Fulfilling schools' ethical obligations toward maintaining student safety requires urgent reforms to bolster emergency preparedness.

Adaptation of mental health first aid guidelines for eating disorders for Iran.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to adapt mental health first aid guidelines to support individuals with or at risk of developing eating disorders in Iran. This adaptation seeks to enhance the support available for the Iranian population dealing with these disorders. METHODS: We employed the Delphi expert consensus method, utilizing two panels: health professionals (n = 37 in the first round; n = 29 in the second) and individuals with lived experience (n = 20 in the first round; n = 18 in the second). The health professionals panel was selected from the graduates of various eating disorders associated scientific fields who had a history of providing services to or conducting research on people with eating disorders, and the lived experience panel had a history of eating disorders themselves or in their family. The panel of individuals with lived experience included those who had personal or familial histories of eating disorders. Efforts were made to ensure cultural, gender, and age diversity in the selection of panel members. Panellists rated the importance of each item for inclusion in the guidelines for Iran based on the English-language Mental Health First Aid guidelines for eating disorders. Items deemed essential by at least 80% of both panels were included in the final guideline. Additionally, panel members were invited to suggest any missing items. RESULTS: A total of 57 participants took part in the first round of the survey, and 47 participated in the second round. In the first round, 204 items across 11 categories were assessed, with 174 items endorsed by the panels. Thirteen items were re-scored in the second round, and 17 items were rejected. Participants suggested 11 new items in the first round. In the second round, 18 out of 24 items were endorsed, while six were rejected. Ultimately, 192 items were incorporated into the Iranian guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation process considered Iran's social and cultural characteristics, including the stigma associated with mental health disorders, religious beliefs and rituals such as fasting, linguistic differences between English and Farsi, distrust of strangers, the influence of friends and family, differences in food access, and low mental health literacy. We recommend piloting the adapted guidelines in high schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations to evaluate their feasibility and effectiveness in real-world settings. Furthermore, it is essential to establish mechanisms for feedback, update content based on the latest evidence, and collaborate with the media to promote educational programs and public participation.

A novel intervention for acute stress reaction: exploring the feasibility of ReSTART among Norwegian soldiers.

Background: Soldiers in combat may experience acute stress reactions (ASRs) in response to trauma. This can disrupt function, increasing both immediate physical danger and the risk for post-trauma mental health sequelae. There are few reported strategies for managing ASRs; however, recent studies suggest a novel peer-based intervention as a promising approach.Objectives: This study assesses the feasibility of ReSTART training, a peer-based course designed to prepare soldiers to manage ASRs. ReSTART builds on programmes established by US and Israeli militaries. The current study evaluates the ReSTART programme in a Norwegian setting, across distinct groups of soldiers, professionals and conscripts.Methods: Participants included professional soldiers deploying to Mali and conscripts with 6 months of service, who completed the ReSTART training course and surveys administered pre- and post-training. These surveys assessed attitudes and programme acceptability. Analyses included 74 soldiers who provided complete survey responses.Results: ReSTART training received high ratings in terms of usefulness, relevance, and importance in managing ASRs. From pre- to post-training, respondents had significant increases in positive attitudes towards ASR management and confidence in handling ASRs personally, and at the unit level; decreases in stigma-related attitudes associated with ASRs; and increased perception of leadership emphasizing ASR management.Conclusions: ReSTART training shows potential as an effective tool when preparing soldiers to manage ASRs in high-risk environments, enhancing military units' capacity to support each other and effectively respond to stress-induced functional disruptions. This study adds evidence supporting the utility of peer-based ASR management in operational settings and highlights the need for broader implementation and systematic evaluation.

This study is the first study outside the US and Israeli context to systematically evaluate the feasibility of peer-based interventions for Acute Stress Reactions (ASRs) during combat.Results show that a novel Norwegian Armed Forces training programme, called ReSTART, is strongly endorsed as a means to prepare soldiers for managing ASRs.The study also demonstrates that completing ReSTART training positively impacts changes in self-confidence in ASR management, confidence in others' ability to manage ASRs, perceptions of leadership emphasis of ASR management, and stigma related to ASRs.This investigation represents the first investigation of how suitable training for peer-based ASR interventions is for inexperienced conscripted soldiers. Findings show that overall, ReSTART training has high suitability for both professional soldiers and conscripts with less than 6 months of service.Findings demonstrate the utility of peer-based interventions like ReSTART in European militaries. Moreover, the study has implications for preparing inexperienced recruits such as newly mobilized Ukrainian soldiers currently being trained by NATO partners.

Descriptive analysis of road traffic crashes encountered by Tanzanian motorcycle taxi drivers trained in first aid.

Introduction: In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, death from road traffic crashes (RTC) occurs at roughly double the global rate. In this study, we sought to understand the locations and types of vehicles involved in RTC in Dar es Salaam encountered by a cohort of motorcycle taxi drivers previously trained in first aid. Methods: This was a quasi-non-randomized interventional study, cohort subtype, with three-month follow-up. Some 186 motorcycle taxi drivers were selected by convenience sampling from 16 heavily populated, central wards and trained in a basic hemorrhage control course. Participants reported the location and types of vehicles involved in RTCs they encountered and intervened upon through performing bleeding control interventions. Surveys were designed on KoboToolbox and administered via phone call at monthly intervals over a three-month period. The main outcome measures were the location of crash encounters and types of vehicles involved. Results: In all 62 unique participants (33.3 %) encountered and provided bleeding control interventions to 83 injured individuals following 69 RTC in at least 31 distinct city wards, despite training only having occurred in 16 wards. Eight crash locations were not recorded. Crashes in distant wards typically contained major roads. Most commonly, crashes involved a motorcycle without the involvement of another vehicle (n=20), followed by motorcycle vs. car/three-wheeled vehicle (n=15), motorcycle vs. bus/van (n=10), motorcycle vs. motorcycle (n=9), motorcycle vs. pedestrian (n=7), pedestrian vs. bus/van (n=2), pedestrian vs. car/three-wheeled vehicle (n=1), motorcycle vs. bicycle (n=1), multi vehicle (n=1), and other (n=3). Conclusions: Motorcycle taxi drivers trained in hemorrhage control frequently encounter and intervene upon RTC in wards where they are based as well as in distant locations, commonly in wards containing major roads. Expanding first aid training for motorcycle taxi drivers could improve timely access to emergency care for RTC victims. Since most crashes involved motorcycles, road safety training should be integrated into future courses.

The impact on users of an unfamiliar AED following a recent training experience: A randomized cross over simulation study.

Objective: This study examined the impact of prior familiarity with automated external defibrillator (AED) models on the time of defibrillation and the emotional experiences of laypersons. Methods: We conducted a randomized cross over simulation study with 123 participants to assess their reactions to both familiar and unfamiliar AED models. The time to first defibrillation was measured using three different AED training models, two of which were previously unknown to the participants. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were held with the participants to gather further insights. Results: Participants took longer to initiate defibrillation with unfamiliar (M = 34 s) AEDs compared to familiar (M = 27 s) ones. This delay was accompanied by feelings of confusion, nervousness, and anxiety. Factors such as the design of the AED covers, electrodes, and buttons were identified as sources of confusion. Nonetheless, clear instructions and similarities between devices helped facilitate their use. Conclusion: The findings suggest that AED design and familiarity with different AED designs may affect performance by laypersons. To improve user confidence, it would be useful to familiarize users with a variety of AED models as part of training initiatives. Understanding the impact of AED familiarity on rescuer's response can guide CPR training strategies and improve outcomes for OHCA. As more AED models become available to the public, the user-friendliness of AEDs may also be improved. It is beneficial for AED manufacturers to consider the results of research when developing new models.

Evaluating Burn First Aid Knowledge, Practices, and Confidence Levels Among the General Population in Aseer, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objectives Burns represents a significant public health issue globally and in Saudi Arabia, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. Prompt, evidence-based first aid improves outcomes. This study assessed burn first aid understanding, self-assurance, and information sources among Aseer Region residents. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to 386 individuals using a validated questionnaire, assessing understanding via a 10-item scale and confidence through Likert scales. Associations between variables were examined statistically. Results Most participants (85%; n=330) demonstrated poor first-aid comprehension, and only (1%; n=2) exhibited excellent knowledge. A history of burn exposure correlated with higher knowledge (p=0.039). The Internet was the primary information source (48%; n= 185). Confidence in assisting burn victims was generally low. Conclusions Significant gaps in foundational burn first aid knowledge were identified, necessitating targeted educational interventions disseminated via multiple modalities to strengthen emergency response and optimize outcomes in this region.

Are nursing students ready to respond to disasters? A study on self-efficacy of nursing students to apply psychological first aid.

BACKGROUND: Psychological first aid (PFA) is an effective initial response to disasters. Nursing students are an important human resource for supporting health services during and after disasters. Improving nursing students' PFA application competencies is necessary for both themselves and aid providers. AIM: This study aimed to determine sernior nursing students' self-efficacy in psychological first aid application in disaster situations. DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 536 senior nursing students who had received undergraduate nursing education in Turkey participated in this study. METHODS: Data were collected between March and June 2022, using an online questionnaire comprising a "Personal Information Form" and "PFA Application Self-Efficacy Scale." The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, multiple comparison tests, and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The average age of the senior nursing students was 21.82 ± 2.23 years. Overall, 89.6 % of the students had not received PFA service from any institution. Furthermore, 91.4 % had not received PFA training at any institution. The students' mean score on the PFA application self-efficacy scale was 123.37 ± 22.92. Students who received PFA training had high average scores. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop senior nursing students' self-efficacy in PFA application. In this context, it is recommended that systematic training, including training on the application of PFA, be conducted regularly along with applied studies on disaster response situations.

Comparison of intelligent virtual reality first-aid training outcomes among individuals with different demographic characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of intelligent first-aid training based on virtual reality (VR) among individuals with different demographic characteristics. METHODS: A total of 50 nonmedical professional volunteers from Nanchang were conveniently sampled in March 2021. All participants underwent intelligent VR first-aid training, and a comparative analysis was conducted by dividing them into different groups based on demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Male participants had a lower chest compression interruption time compared to female participants (7.40 ± 0.50 vs. 8.04 ± 0.56, t = -4.231, p < 0.001). Additionally, male participants had a higher proportion of compressions with correct compression depth (81.33 ± 1.24 vs. 79.78 ± 1.48, t = 4.038, p < 0.001), higher mean ventilation volume (518.11 ± 1.50 vs. 516.61 ± 2.17, t = 2.881, p = 0.006), and higher theoretical knowledge test score (8.74 ± 0.59 vs. 8.00 ± 0.43, t = 4.981, p < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the mean chest compression frequency (110.38 ± 5.74 vs. 105.00 ± 4.78 vs. 107.80 ± 5.97, F = 5.187, p = 0.009) among participants with different educational backgrounds. Pairwise comparisons showed that technical degree holders had a higher mean chest compression frequency than bachelor's degree holders, whereas no statistically significant difference was observed between master's degree holders and bachelor's degree holders. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of first-aid training differ among participants of different genders and with different educational backgrounds. With all participants meeting the training qualifications, it is believed that the application of intelligent VR first-aid training platforms can improve the first aid capabilities of the public.