A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Skill Training of Children on First-Aid

Background and Objectives: A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a Skill Training Programme (STP) on first-aid for selected Accidents and Emergencies for school children. The objectives of the study were to: develop and validate a STP on first-aid for selected accidents and emergencies, determine the level of knowledge of high school children regarding first-aid for selected accidents and emergencies, as measured by a structured knowledge questionnaire before and after the administration of STP, determine the level of skill of high school children regarding first-aid for selected accidents and emergencies, as measured by an observation checklist, before and after the administration of STP, determine the effectiveness of STP in terms of gain in post-test knowledge and skill scores, find the association between the level of knowledge and selected variables such as gender, parent's educational status, parent's occupation and source of prior information, find the association between the level of skill and selected variables such as gender, parent's educational status, parent's occupation and source of prior information, determine the high school children's opinion about the STP. Methods: The conceptual framework of the present study is based on System's Model of WHO SEARO technical publications. The hypotheses were developed and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The research approach used for the study was an evaluative approach with one group pretest posttest pre-experimental design. The study sample consisted of 56 high school children of 9th standard from Manipal Pre University College, Manipal. The sampling technique adopted for the study was non-probability cluster sampling for the selection of samples and convenience sampling for the selection of the school. The pretesting was done by administering the tool to seven students studying in the English medium in 9th standard from Christian high school, Udupi. Reliability of the structured knowledge questionnaire was ensured by administering the tool to 20 students, and skills of the 12 students were assessed out of the twenty studying in the 9th standard of Indrali English medium high school, Udupi. The pilot study was conducted on ten students studying in 9th standard of SDA English Medium High School, Bangalore. The study design was found to be feasible and practicable. Results: The major findings of the study were that the t test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pretest and posttest skill scores of ‘first-aid for bleeding wounds' of the high school children t = 27.94, t(55) = 2, p < 0.05 which is significant, the t test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pretest and posttest skill scores of ‘first-aid for closed fracture of the hand ‘of the high school children t = 24.59, t(55) = 2, p < 0.05 which is significant, the t test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pretest and posttest skill scores of ‘first-aid for poisonous snake bite' of the high school children t = 22.54, t(55) = 2, p < 0.05 which is significant. Conclusions: The opinionnaire on STP showed that all (100%) students agreed that the language of the STP was simple and clear and the content is easy to remember because of the visual aids. Majority (91.07%) of the students agreed that STP is easy to practice and they have gained adequate skills to provide first-aid and (98.21%) students agreed that their doubts were clarified