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

Abstract

The eye is a vital and extraordinarily perceptive part of the human body. A wide spectrum of possible outcomes from eye injuries, from temporary vision loss to permanent blindness. There is a lack of information about how to handle an eye injury. Education and raising awareness are the best way to prevent severe complications and eventual loss of vision. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and assess general population knowledge and first aid practices regarding eye injuries in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia, focusing on the importance of early management. MethodologyA cross-sectional questionnaire was administered among residents of western Saudi Arabia using a validated questionnaire. One thousand two hundred seventy-nine adults of both genders were randomly chosen to represent the sample. In December 2022, we used a web-based survey to gather our data. ResultThis study analyzed data from 1279 responses on the online platform. Results showed that good knowledge was significantly higher among females than males, those without a history of eye injury than their peers with injuries, and those with higher educational levels than those with lower educational levels. Additionally, good knowledge was predicted by the female gender (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.1, p < 0.001). ConclusionThe study found that public awareness of eye injury first aid was good in the western region. The role of physicians should be expanded and health education campaigns and social media are recommended to achieve the goal of reduction and limiting the most crucial damage to the most sensitive organ in the body.

Community-Level Awareness of Proper Immediate Steps for Ocular Chemical Injury in Saudi Arabia

“…However, other studies have reported variations in knowledge levels. Alhothali et al conducted a study and reported a higher overall knowledge score compared to the present study [19]. These differences could be attributed to variations in the study populations, geographical regions, or educational programs implemented to enhance eye injury awareness in specific contexts.…”

Community-Level Awareness of Proper Immediate Steps Regarding Ocular Chemical Injury in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Also, good knowledge was shown by the female gender. In the current study, a statistically significant association was found between age and awareness (P-value < 0.00001) [ 16 ]. However, it's important to clarify that these findings do not inherently imply that being female directly causes or affects knowledge.…”