First aid knowledge and educational needs related to maxillofacial trauma among elementary school teachers in Jeollabuk-do / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge of elementary school teachers regarding first aid for maxillofacial trauma and the need for education on this topic in an effort to provide information for the development of teacher education programs. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 320 elementary school teachers who visited the Education and Training Center of Jeollabukdo to take training courses answered a self-administered survey. RESULTS: We found that 38.8 percent of the elementary school teachers had witnessed the occurrence of maxillofacial trauma in students. While 53.4 percent of the teachers replied that they did not have adequate knowledge of first aid for maxillofacial trauma, only 10.7 percent reported receiving this education while they served as teachers or when they were studying to be teachers at college. The teachers who had received instruction for dealing with maxillofacial trauma as teachers or as college students were 3.6-fold more likely to report that they would provide first aid for maxillofacial trauma compared with those who had not received such training. Many teachers had incorrect knowledge about how to cope with this type of trauma, indicating the need for providing correct information to this population. Finally, 99.1 percent of the elementary school teachers considered receiving education about first aid for maxillofacial trauma necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The development of teacher education programs is required to help elementary school teachers offer appropriate first aid when maxillofacial trauma occurs.