Determining the efficiency of basic first aid training provided to secondary school students

Aim: This study was conducted quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest single group to determine the efficiency of the basic first aid training provided to the secondary school students. Material and Method: The study was conducted between 18 April 2016 and 5 July 2017 in three secondary schools located in the city center of Van in Turkey. The population of the study consisted of 7th graders studying in the spring term of the school year of 2015-2016 in these three secondary schools. Without making the sample selection, all the students (n=391) for whom the parent and student permissions were obtained for participation in the study were included in the study. The data were collected by the researcher using "Information Form" and "Knowledge Assessment Form for First Aid Training". In the study, "basic first aid training" consisting of two sessions (90 minutes) was provided by the researcher to the students. The first aid knowledge levels of the students were assessed before the training, after the training, and two weeks after the training. The data were analyzed through percentage distributions, mean, standard deviation, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis Test, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient calculation. Ethics approval, official permissions and written permission from the parents were obtained in order to conduct the study. Results: It was found that the students included in the study had an average age of 13.18±0.54, 51.2% were boys, and 48.8% were girls. It was found that the first aid knowledge mean scores of the students were 58.66±6.57 in the pretest, 96.29±4.12 in the posttest, and 95.26±5.05 in the control test, and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The age and gender variables did not affect the first aid knowledge mean scores (p>0.05), but the socio-economic conditions affected (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the basic first aid training provided to the Secondary School 7th graders developed their knowledge levels. Additionally, it was revealed that while age and gender did not affect their first aid knowledge levels, socio-economic condition was effective.