| Abstract |
Introduction: School and preschool children constitute a population vulnerable to accidents due to their impulsiveness and susceptibility to distraction. Hence, the incidence of accidents and other emergencies in a school environment is high. Regarding special education schools, the incidence of emergencies is even higher, as this group of school population presents large percentages of disability and therefore, increased co-morbidity rates. First aid is the initial care provided for an acute illness or injury and its goals are to preserve life, alleviate suffering, prevent further illness or injury, and promote recovery. Thus, first aid knowledge among professionals in special education is pivotal for students’ security.
Aim of the study: The investigation of first aid knowledge among professionals in special education primary schools of Heraklion prefecture.
Methods: It is an observational study that was conducted in special education primary schools of Heraklion prefecture from June through November 2021. The collection of data was based on the questionnaire “Development and testing of the School Staff First Aid Knowledge Test” with the authorization of its creators. The sample consisted of professionals in the special education primary schools of Heraklion prefecture.
Results: The sample consisted of 100 participants, professionals of all special education primary schools of Heraklion prefecture. 37% of the participants have participated in first aid educational programs during their careers. The mean test score was 45,65 (±7,97), which corresponds to a moderate knowledge level, given that the potential test score ranges between 0 and 75. The participants who had not participated in a first aid course, present significantly lower scores, particularly with a mean of 4,35 less credits than those who had attended a first aid educational program (p=0,006). The participants achieved higher scores in the thematic categories of wounds- hemorrhage [2,41 (±0,57)], first aid concept [2,21 (±0,70)] and injuries and fractures [2,21 (±0,64)]. On the contrary, the participants noted lower scores in the thematic categories related to poisoning [0,98 (±0,71)] and CPR [0,98 (±0,71)]. Participants’ level of knowledge about first aid differed significantly according to their age (p=0,009). More specifically, those who were up to 25 years old had significantly lower knowledge levels than those who were older than 25 years old [42,63 (±7,81) versus 48,17 (±7,27), p=0,012]. Furthermore, knowledge level differed also significantly in relation to participants’ marital status (p=0,030), that is, the unmarried present significantly lower level of knowledge in correlation with those who were married [44,26 (±8,64) versus 48,77 (±6,60), p=0,031]. In addition, the knowledge level varies according to the field of participants’ additional studies (p=0,002). Specifically, the participants with additional studies in health science had significantly higher knowledge level in first aid than those with additional studies in education/ pedagogy [54,30 (±8,03) versus 44,12 (±8,13), p=0,003] as well as with those with additional studies in psychology [54,30 (±8,03) έναντι 41,70 (±6,78), p=0,003].
Conclusions: Conclusively, the current study found moderate levels of first aid knowledge among professionals in special education primary schools of Heraklion prefecture. The participants showed higher level of knowledge in the thematic categories of wounds, hemorrhage, injuries, and fractions than in those in relation to CPR and poisoning. Additionally, it is found that participants’ knowledge level differed significantly depending on participants’ age, marital status, the field of additional studies, and their participation in first aid educational programs.
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