The effect of knowledge levels of individuals receiving basic first aid training in Turkey on the applications of first aid

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge level of individuals who attended a first aid training update program, and to determine the factors affecting their approaches in such cases. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample of the research consists of 747 individuals (laypersons) who applied to the first aid training update organized in an institution in Istanbul providing health education between 01.02.2018 and 01.08.2018, and who agreed to participate in the research. These first aid trainings are provided by healthcare professionals who have first aid certificate of authority within the scope of first aid regulation. Data were collected using the "Participant Information Form" and the "Basic First Aid Knowledge Level Evaluation Form". RESULTS: The participants administered first aid within the three years of time following their basic first aid training course (24.6%). They administered first aid primarily in emergency cases of fainting (29.6%) and the majority of them (95.7%) did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation during their basic first aid effort. Of the participants, 73.9% answered incorrectly the question: "The letter 'A' in the abbreviation ABC of basic life support administration stands for airway". In our study, it was also found that there was a significant relationship between the total knowledge score and the number of trainings update and first aid intervention in the last three years (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that individuals had a high level of knowledge about basic first aid and one-quarter of the participants had administered first aid in the last three years. In order for individuals not to lose their knowledge and skills gained through first aid training; updating training and providing first aid training programs to individuals in society can be a guide for bystanders who provide faster and sufficient first aid in cases of emergency.