Assessing knowledge and practice about eye injuries first aid, with awareness about the importance of early management among general population in Asser Region, 2020

Abstract

Background: Eye injury is a leading cause of monocular blindness and is second only to cataract as the commonest cause of visual impairment. Injury is the commonest reason for eye-related emergency department visits. Aim: To assess population awareness regarding eye injuries first aids in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting all accessible population in Aseer region, Southern of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from participants using electronic pre-structured questionnaire. The tool will cover participants' socio-demographic data, participants' history of eye injury, awareness and practice regarding different types of eye injuries first aids. Results: The survey included 1213 participants who completed the questionnaire. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 60 years old with mean age of 22.3 ± 11.9 years old. About 69% of the participants reported for having constant eye pain, 68.3% reported in case of Foreign Body (FB) in the eye, 66.9% reported for torn eye lid. Regarding signs of scratch eye, 64.2% reported for feel FB inside, 58% reported for eye pain and 55.2% reported for blurred vision. Exact of 25.7% of participants reported that they should blink several times in case of getting eye scratch, whereas 77.8% reported that they should rub the eye to try to remove any foreign object, 36.3% preferred to use the soothing eye drop. Conclusions In conclusion, the study revealed that public awareness regarding eye injury first aid in Aseer region was poor especially for chemical injuries. Physician role should be augmented and health education campaigns are advised.

Community-level awareness of proper immediate steps regarding ocular chemical injury in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia

“…These high prevalence rates warrant research into community's level of knowledge of chemical eye injuries to reduce their incidence and complications. The analysis showed that the vast majority (95.1%) agreed that chemical injuries to the eye can cause ocular complications; a finding consistent with studies from Jeddah [ 9 ] (88.3%) and Aseer region (86.9%) [ 10 ].…”

“…The questionnaire was developed by the study authors based on previous research [ 9 , 10 ]. It included questions assessing demographic data (sex, age, job, education, and income) and questions assessing knowledge of ocular chemical burns and proper immediate steps.…”

“…Chemical injuries can involve alkaline and acidic injuries. Alkaline burns are more common and result in more severe injuries due to the widespread use of alkaline chemicals in industrial and household cleaners [ 10 ]. Any chemical burn should be treated rapidly at the time and area of the injury.…”

Assessing the Perceptions and Practices Toward Eye Injuries First Aid Among General Population in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study was conducted in three big cities Makkah, Jeddah, and Al-Taif. It shows that 23% of subjects have a history of eye injury, in contrast to other research done among the general population of Asser, which shows that a 15% of their participants have had a history of eye injuries [5]. Around three-quarters of our participants (73.7%) declined to rub their eyes to remove foreign objects.…”

“…A closed-ended structured questionnaire was adapted from a study in the Asser region of Saudi Arabia [5].…”