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Examining self-perceived first-aid abilities after the Northridge earthquake
L H Nguyen1, K I Shoaf, S J Rottman
1Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health 90095-1772, USA.
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|September 4, 1997
Summary
Formal first-aid training significantly boosts self-perceived abilities. However, demographic factors like being white, younger, English-speaking, and lower-income also independently predict higher first-aid skills in the community.
Area of Science:
- Disaster preparedness
- Public health
- Emergency response
Background:
- Assessing self-perceived first-aid abilities is crucial for community resilience post-disaster.
- The 1994 Northridge earthquake provides a context for examining factors influencing these abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors predicting self-perceived first-aid abilities in a community sample.
- To understand the influence of formal training versus demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- A probability-proportionate-to-size (pps) sample was drawn from Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
- Data were collected via 45-minute interviews with 506 individuals.
- A causal path model was used with self-perceived first-aid ability as the dependent variable.
Main Results:
- Taking first-aid courses was the strongest predictor of self-perceived first-aid abilities.
- Being white, younger, speaking English at home, and lower income independently predicted higher self-perceived abilities.
- These demographic influences were significant even when controlling for formal training.
Conclusions:
- First-aid training initiatives should target populations less likely to have received formal instruction.
- Individuals reporting high self-aid proficiency, irrespective of training, require further assessment of actual skills.