Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Parental Knowledge of First Aid for Burns, Fractures, and Foreign Body Aspiration in Children Aged Up to 18 Years: A Pre-Experimental Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53926/YNJR/0033Keywords:
first aid, burns, fractures, foreign body aspiration, structured teaching programme, paediatric emergencies, knowledgeAbstract
Background: Unintentional injuries including burns, fractures, and foreign body aspiration (FBA) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Parents, as primary caregivers, are often the first responders in such emergencies; however, evidence consistently indicates substantial deficits in their first aid knowledge.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme (STP) on knowledge regarding first aid for burns, fractures, and foreign body aspiration among parents of children aged up to 18 years in Anakkayam Grama Panchayath.
Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was employed. One hundred parents of children aged up to 18 years were recruited by non-probability purposive sampling from Anakkayam Grama Panchayath, Kerala, India. Data were collected using a 15-item structured knowledge questionnaire. Knowledge scores were categorised as inadequate (1–5), moderate (6–10), or adequate (11–15). The STP was administered following the pre-test. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and chi-square test.
Results: Prior to the intervention, 56 (56%) parents had inadequate knowledge, 41 (41%) had moderate knowledge, and 3 (3%) had adequate knowledge. Following the STP, 98 (98%) parents demonstrated adequate knowledge, 2 (2%) had moderate knowledge, and none had inadequate knowledge. The mean knowledge score increased from 5.56 (SD 2.865) pre-test to 14.72 (SD 0.841) post-test (t = 16.80, p < 0.001). Chi-square analysis revealed a statistically significant association between post-test knowledge scores and the preferred healthcare-seeking centre (χ² = 30.8468, df = 6, p < 0.05), whereas no significant associations were found for age of child, parental education, occupation, or prior accident experience.
Conclusion: The structured teaching programme significantly improved parental knowledge of first aid for burns, fractures, and foreign body aspiration in children, demonstrating that targeted educational interventions can effectively bridge caregiver knowledge gaps in community settings.
References
1. Wei W, Lyu W, Zhang Y. Global patterns and health impact of unintentional injuries among children aged 0–19 years from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1626739. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1626739
2. World Health Organization. Burns [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2018 [cited 2025 Sep]. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/npszsmcu
3. Cetinkaya F, Odabasi G. The effect of training on parents’ knowledge level regarding first aid in pediatric burns. Int J Caring Sci. 2021;14(3). Available from: https://tinyurl.com/33nfhdvs
4. Wang Q, Kong X, Wang G, et al. A real-world study of foreign body aspiration in children with 4227 cases in western China. Sci Rep. 2024;14:15251. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-65876-7
5. Begóvić I, et al. Parental awareness of the dangers of foreign body inhalation in children. Acta Clin Croat. 2022;61(Suppl 4):26-33. doi:10.20471/acc.2022.61.s4.3
6. Bin Laswad BM, et al. Parental knowledge and practices related to foreign body aspiration in children in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2023;15(2):e34816. doi:10.7759/cureus.34816
7. Hailu Y, Yifru S. Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice towards the first aid management of foreign body aspiration and obstruction among parents of children at SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Int J Sci Rep. 2025;11(4):154-162. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20250747
8. Taksande AL. Effectiveness of planned teaching on knowledge regarding first aid for burns and its prevention among parents of children under five years. J Clin Diagn Res. 2021;15(2):LC01-LC06. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2021/44766.14476
9. Shrestha A. Effectiveness of structured educational intervention on knowledge regarding first aid of choking and burns among Nepalese female adults: a pre-experimental study. J Nurs Educ Nepal. 2024;15(1):67-76. doi:10.62143/tj4tfm60
