Aybüke BACANLI, Belen ATEŞ, Seçil ARICA
Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi - 2026;20(3):171-176
Objective: Parents of children receiving home health care must possess adequate first aid knowledge to manage emergencies effectively. This study aimed to assess the level of first aid knowledge among caregivers of pediatric patients receiving home health care and to identify factors associated with knowledge gaps. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 66 caregivers of children aged 1 month-18 years registered at the Home Health Services Unit of Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital between November 2024 and February 2025. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a 20-item first aid knowledge questionnaire developed from a literature review. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Results: The average first aid knowledge score was 8.18+/-4.88 (range: -4 to 18), indicating a 39.0% success rate. Most participants were mothers (86.4%) with elementary or middle school education (65.2%). Significant positive correlations existed between first aid knowledge and both education level (rho=0.290, p=0.019) and age group (p=0.030), with caregivers aged 35-45 showing higher knowledge scores than those aged 18-25 (p=0.015). Critical gaps in knowledge were seen in poison control hotline awareness (4.5%), fall-from-height intervention (16.7%), and unconscious child assessment (27.3%). Despite low knowledge levels, 87.9% of participants were willing to receive first aid training. Conclusion: Caregivers of children receiving home health care show inadequate first aid knowledge, especially in critical emergencies. Lower education levels and younger age are linked to reduced knowledge. The strong motivation for training among caregivers offers a chance for targeted educational efforts. Urgent, comprehensive, and customized first aid training programs are necessary, particularly for caregivers of medically complex children using specialized medical devices.
