First aid knowledge for burn injuries among healthcare workers and the general population in Saudi Arabia: A...

Burns are among the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Prompt and effective first aid is crucial in mitigating the severity of burn injuries. This study assessed the current burn first aid knowledge level among healthcare workers and non-healthcare individuals in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of healthcare workers and the general population in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online questionnaire-based survey composed of two main parts: demographic characteristics of the participants and five case-scenario-based multiple-choice questions (scald burns, flame burns, contact burns, chemical burns, and liquid petroleum gas cylinder burns).

A total of 748 participants were included in the study (355 healthcare workers with a response rate of 92.2 % and 393 general population). More than one-third (36.6 %) of the participants reported receiving formal training in first aid. However, this training covered first aid in burn injuries in 26.3 % of cases. Healthcare workers were more knowledgeable than the general population as regards scald burns (p < 0.001), flame burns (p = 0.028), contact burns (p < 0.001), and liquid petroleum gas cylinder burns (p < 0.001). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only job category and history of receiving any training in first aid were significantly associated with insufficient knowledge about the management of burns among both groups.

Although healthcare workers demonstrated better knowledge than the general population regarding the 1st aid management for different burn scenarios, both groups' knowledge levels require improvement. Thus, comprehensive health and safety education, with a specific focus on burn safety, is highly recommended for all healthcare workers and the general population.