First aid knowledge and application among commercial inter-city drivers in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic accidents have been responsible for an increasing number of deaths and disabilities worldwide, with a disproportionate growth in developing countries. While preventative measures are essential, integration of basic medical care in the pre-hospital setting is crucial given the limitations of pre-hospital emergency medical services within most low to middle income countries. Additional opportunities to provide immediate care at the point of injury have been explored but are not uniformly available. The objective of this study was to ascertain the current level of basic first aid knowledge and application of commercial inter-city drivers in Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional cohort study was carried out among commercial inter-city drivers in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria from March - April 2009. Using a simple random sampling technique, 229 participants were uniformly interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Results: All participants were males with 102 (44.5%) having a secondary school education. The mean driving experience of participants was 26.1 years. A minority of participants (86; 37.6%) identified basic resuscitation priorities correctly. Most participants (183; 79.9%) believed that they could be trained and would be willing to apply first aid. Discussion: Basic first aid knowledge and application are limited in the studied inter-city driver cohort. However, a majority believe they could be trained and would be willing to participate in patient care. Further efforts should be made to educate commercial drivers on the components of first aid, establish appropriate on-board resources, and measure outcomes.

Keywords

• First-aid
• Road traffic accidents
• Inter-city drivers
• Knowledge
• Attitude
• Treatment