The effect of training on first aid responses in paediatric burns on the knowledge level of parents

THE EFFECT OF TRAINING ON FIRST AID RESPONSES IN PAEDIATRIC BURNS ON THE KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF PARENTS This study was conducted as quasi-experimental study to assess the parents' knowledge level on first aid responses in paediatric burns and to determine the effect of the training provided. The data were collected at Gaziantep City Hospital between 20 January 2024 and 15 May 2024. The study was conducted with 50 parents. After obtaining ethics committee approval and institutional permission, the data were collected by the face-to-face interview method using the "Data Collection Form" and "Assessment Form for Parents' Knowledge Levels of First Aid in Paediatric Burns" in the specified hospital and they were analysed through the SPSS 25.0 statistical program. The mean age of the parents was found to be "31.28±6.98", 82% were mothers, 66% were aged between 19 and 35 years, 76% were housewife, 80% were unemployed, 44% graduated from secondary school, 54% lived in a province, 74% had a nuclear family, 54% had an income equal to expenses; and 72% had social security. The mean age of the children was "4.54±4.17", 78% were aged between 1-6 years, 54% were girls, 96% had no history of any disease, 60% had 1-3 siblings, and 28% were the first child. The study revealed that the rate of correct answers for following questions about parents' knowledge of first aid in burns after and one month after the training increased, compared to the pre-training rates; the parents should neither force nor pull to take off the clothes that had stuck to the skin of the child when burning; applying toothpaste to a burn wound does not accelerate healing; the most accurate first aid response in chemical burns is to keep the burned site under running water for 20–30 minutes; and applying eggs, tomato paste, toothpaste, etc. to the burned site raises the likelihood of infection. The rate of correct answers for the statements "salt and sugar can be applied to the burn site is wrong" and "water should never be used in electrical burns" increased after and one month after the training. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the training provided elevated the knowledge level of the parents; the parents learned how to respond to burns in the first aid responses after the training and felt themselves sufficient thereof; their knowledge level in paediatric burns improved; and their first aid knowledge about traditional practices changed positively. According to the results of this study, the parents' knowledge level about first aid responses in child burns should be improved, and they should be informed about how first aid should be applied by planning and implementing first aid training for parents and include this training into training programs. Accordingly, it is recommended to improve parents' knowledge about first aid responses for burns in children by means of social media, public service announcements, and information in places where parents are concentrated. Keywords: Child Burns; Parents; Knowledge Level; First Aid İnterventions For Child Burns.