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East and Central African Journal of Surgery
Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
ISSN: 1024-297X EISSN: 1024-297X
Vol. 19, No. 1, 2014, pp. 17-21
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Bioline Code: js14003
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2014, pp. 17-21
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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in First Aid Management of Epistaxis by Accident and Emergency Clinical Staff at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Mugwe, P.; Kamau, K.J. & Nyambaka, O.K.
Abstract
Background: Epistaxis is one of the commonest emergencies in Accident & Emergency
and Ear, Nose & Throat departments. A vast majority of these patients settle with simple
standard first aid measures. The aim of this study was evaluate knowledge, attitude and
practice in first aid management of epistaxis among the clinical staff at the Accident and
Emergency (A&E) Department of Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.
Methods: This was a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the
Accident and Emergency Department of Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. The principal
researcher administered a questionnaire to the clinical staffs who were doctors and nurses
in the department.
Results: Data was collected from 70 clinical staff between October and December 2010.
Nurses were the most respondents (68.6%); 17.1% were medical officers and 14.3% were
senior house officers. Majority of the respondents had worked for over 10 years after
highest qualification. The commonest first aid measures reported to be known by
respondents included pinching the nose (94%), nasal packing (80.6%) and sitting leaning
forward position (76.1%). Only 38.1% of respondents demonstrated the correct site for
pinching the nose. The main source of information for first aid measures was the
curriculum in training (64.2%) while 16.4% sourced from a first aid course they had done.
On positioning of patient with epistaxis, 60% gave correct responses while 51% correctly
said patient should be referred if epistaxis persists. All the 70 respondents felt that first aid
was necessary in treatment of epistaxis. Majority (72.9%) of the respondents said they had
ever given first aid to a patient with epistaxis.
Conclusion: The clinical staffs in the A & E Department have inadequate knowledge on
the standard first aid measures of epistaxis. However, most had good attitude and had
provided first aid to patients presenting with epistaxis. There is need for training the staff
on these measures.
Keywords
Epistaxis; first aid; clinical staff
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© Copyright 2014 - East and Central African Journal of Surgery
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