ABSTRACT
Introduction Epilepsy is a neurologic disease that causes a predisposition to recurrent seizure attacks. It affects a large number of people around the world and in Saudi Arabia. Seizures can be a source of distress for both the affected person and those witnessing them. Thus, being able to deliver first aid is important, as it improves safety and decreases the burden of visits to the emergency room that are unnecessary, since many attacks of seizure can be managed in the community. Weak knowledge regarding seizure first aid measures is reported many times across Saudi Arabia, with a high prevalence of misconceptions. Methods This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design, utilizing a questionnaire-based approach. The data was collected from a sample of 1871 individuals residing in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. The participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire and ensured anonymity. The questionnaire used in this study was previously validated and used in another study. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the data, and Chi-square test was employed to establish the association between sociodemographic data and knowledge of seizure first aid. Results Most of the participants were females (70.0%, N=1310), and the majority (76.1%, N=1423) fell within the 18-30 age group. A high percentage were single (71.6%, N=1339), college graduates (64.3%, N=1201), and unemployed (58.7%, N=1099). The study results revealed that 31.9% (N=597) had a good knowledge level of epilepsy, while 68.1% (N=1274) had poor knowledge. Nearly half (48.4%, N=905) believed that epilepsy was caused by genetic factors, and 61.4% (N=1149) of the respondents reported loss of consciousness as the most common clinical symptom of epilepsy. With regards to correct action during seizures, 48.0% (N=899) knew to place the patient on their side, and 85.0% (N=1591) thought calling 997 ("the ambulance") was necessary if seizures lasted over five minutes. The study showed a statistically significant association between the level of education, employment, and knowledge of epilepsy first aid management (p=0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). However, no significant associations were found between gender, age, marital status, and knowledge of epilepsy first aid management (p>0.005). Conclusion The study unveiled poor overall epilepsy knowledge among Al-Madinah City residents, with only 31.9% (N=597) demonstrating good knowledge. This indicates the community's limited ability to respond to seizures. Most citizens were unfamiliar with seizure first-aid, lacking the capability to provide assistance. A significant association was found between education, employment, and epilepsy first aid knowledge. Respondents with higher education had better epilepsy knowledge. Attending epilepsy education courses is vital for enhancing overall awareness and readiness to provide seizure first aid.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Acute poisoning, arising from exposure to toxic substances, is a critical healthcare challenge. In the United States, it's one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality. European institutions report that about 1% of all emergency department admissions relate to poisoning, a statistic that becomes alarming given the life-threatening implications. While there's an underreporting of these cases, the actual figure could be much higher. Acute poisoning has resulted in over a million morbidity cases with a 20% mortality rate. Most concerning is the World Health Organization's data indicating that over 90% of accidental poisoning deaths occur in low to middle-income countries. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a 12-month period in three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The study population comprised of 1470 patients who presented to emergency departments with suspected acute poisoning. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, capturing data on patient demographics, nature and type of poisoning, initial management, and outcomes. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armok, NY). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while Chi-square tests were employed to determine associations between demographic factors and the nature of poisoning. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the link between referrals to specialized centers and patient outcomes. Results Out of the 1470 participants, a significant majority were males, constituting 77.1%. The dominant age group was between 18-24 years, representing 71.4% of the sample. A substantial 88.6% had visited the emergency room due to medical complications stemming from poisoning. When queried about their understanding of acute poisoning, 60.0% were able to correctly define the term. However, a concerning 54.3% reported they had never received any formal training or been part of awareness programs regarding poisoning. There was a marked association (p < 0.001) between demographics and the nature of toxin exposure. Delving deeper into the specifics of poisoning incidents, medications were identified as the primary culprits in 8.6% of the cases, followed by household chemicals at 5.7%. Crucially, a vast majority, 82.9%, were of the opinion that with the right education and precautions in place, the incidence of poisoning cases could be substantially reduced. Conclusion Acute poisoning is a pressing concern in Saudi Arabia, with a significant proportion of the population unaware or inadequately trained to handle such emergencies. This study underscores the importance of awareness campaigns, formal education, and specialized training to prevent and effectively manage poisoning cases in emergency settings. Moreover, the strong association between certain demographics and toxin exposures suggests that targeted interventions might be necessary for specific groups.
