The Effect of Training on First-Aid Knowledge, Emergency Management Skills, and Learning Retention Rate of Secondary School Students in Delta State, Nigeria

The thesis investigates the impact of first aid (FA) training on secondary school students’ knowledge, emergency management skills, and learning retention rate in Delta State, Nigeria, amidst rising injuries and illnesses among children. The study highlights the urgent need for effective FA management to reduce health impacts and fatalities, as previous research indicates inadequate FA skills and training evaluations. Utilising a quantitative experimental design, the research involved 200 secondary school students selected through a 4-stage Solomon approach to ensure random allocation and control for biases. Participants were drawn from three geographical regions of Delta State, with a comprehensive 33-item questionnaire assessing demographics, FA knowledge, and learning retention rate for various conditions, including choking, wounds, and CPR. An observational checklist documented participants’ FA-management skills and retention. Ethical approvals were obtained from the relevant committees (UREC& MOHREC), and informed consent was received from guardians and participants. The training programme was developed using the ADDIE and PRECEDE-PROCEED models, employing a multi-sensory approach. A 50% benchmark was set to categorise knowledge levels as adequate or inadequate. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, binary logistic-regression, ANCOVA, and t-tests, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results indicated a significant improvement in post-intervention knowledge (t = -7.233, p = 0.000) compared to the control group, with pre-intervention scores below 50%. The trained participants are approximately four times (AOR = 4.131) more knowledgeable in first aid than untrained individuals. FA management skills improved from a pre-intervention score of 2.26 ± 0.93 (45.16%) to 3.20 ± 0.83 (63.98%) post-intervention. However, the retention score for emergency management skills declined after one month to 2.38 ± 0.93 (47.65%), leaving the overall retention rate for emergency management skills at 69.17%. Previous FA knowledge (t = 3.423, p = 0.001) and FA banners (t = 5.221, p = 0.000) significantly influenced post-intervention knowledge. The findings underscore the importance of FA training, mainly using multisensory methods and ongoing refresher courses, to enhance students’ knowledge retention and emergency management skills. The study advocates for governmental and educational stakeholder support in promoting comprehensive FA training initiatives.