THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS
S, S., Arkal, K., Desai, G., S, M., S, N. (2025). THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS. EKB Journal Management System, 5(2), 7-17. doi: 10.21608/jicem.2025.426313
Shivprasad S; Kavya Arkal; Girish Desai; Manjushree S; Navin S. "THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS". EKB Journal Management System, 5, 2, 2025, 7-17. doi: 10.21608/jicem.2025.426313
S, S., Arkal, K., Desai, G., S, M., S, N. (2025). 'THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS', EKB Journal Management System, 5(2), pp. 7-17. doi: 10.21608/jicem.2025.426313
S, S., Arkal, K., Desai, G., S, M., S, N. THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 5(2): 7-17. doi: 10.21608/jicem.2025.426313

THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING FIRST AID COURSES WITHIN THE CURRICULUM OF FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS

The Egyptian Journal of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2025, Page 7-17  XML PDF (288.55 K)
Document Type: Original papers
DOI: 10.21608/jicem.2025.426313
View on SCiNiTO View on SCiNiTO
Authors
Shivprasad S email 1; Kavya Arkal2; Girish Desai3; Manjushree S4; Navin S4
1Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi-585105, India
2Post Graduate, Department ophthalmology, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary-585105, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi-585105, India
4Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi-585105, India
Abstract
Background: Medical emergencies are a global issue, with individuals of all ages and genders at risk of encountering accidents, burns, heart attacks, strokes, and more. Essential life skills such as wound management and cardiovascular resuscitation play a crucial role in lowering the incidence of casualties. The ability to provide first aid is vital, as it not only saves lives but also allows individuals to effectively manage patients until medical assistance arrives. However, the current medical curriculum in RGUHS does not include first aid as a stand-alone topic, raising the need for its inclusion in medical education. Methodology: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes towards first aid among medical students, as well as the necessity for introducing a first aid course for first-year students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving medical students, faculty, and the general public at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences. Results:  Results indicated that while knowledge of first aid principles and basic life support techniques among students was poor, there was a willingness to learn and incorporate first aid training as a mandatory subject. Teachers recognized the importance of early first aid training for students, although time constraints were a limiting factor in curriculum inclusion. The general public also expressed support for first aid training among medical students and believed in their ability to handle emergencies effectively. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the importance of incorporating first aid training in medical education to empower future healthcare providers with essential life-saving skills.
Keywords
Medical education; First aid training; Curriculum development; Medical student learning; Emergency care; Healthcare outcomes
References
  1. Kumar, S., Ravi, K. R., & Rao, V. R. (2019). First aid: A neglected topic in medical curriculum. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 13(1), QC13-QC16. Doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2019/36391.36391
  2. Kumaran, S., & Karthikeyan, K. (2018). Common emergency conditions encountered in emergency department: A retrospective study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 12(1), QC13-QC17. Doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2018/35763.35763
  3. World Health Organization. (2021). First aid. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/first-aid
  4. Al-Ghannam, S. M. (2015). Impact of educational intervention on knowledge, awareness, and practice of infection control measures among healthcare workers at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 10(3), 351-357. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2015.04.012
  5. Khan, M., Khan, A., & Khan, M. (2019). First aid training for medical students: A review. Journal of Medical Sciences, 14(1), 1-8.
  6. Kruk, D. W., Kaczmarek, M., & Kowalski, P. (2019). First aid training for medical students: A systematic review. Polish Journal of Nursing Sciences, 37(1), 1-11.
  7. Mishra, R., & Singh, R. (2019). First aid training for medical students: A review. Journal of Medical Sciences, 14(1), 1-8.
  8. Khan, M., Khan, A., & Khan, M. (2019). First aid training for medical students: A review. Journal of Medical Sciences, 14(1), 1-8.
  9. Riley, D. J. (2018). The importance of first aid training for medical students. Journal of Medical Education and Curriculum Development, 1-12. Retrieved from https://www.jmedcurriculumdev.com/index.php/jmedcd/article/view/36
  10. Singh, A. K., & Singh, R. K. (2014). Integration of first aid training in medical curriculum. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 4(2), 560-566. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4217993/
  11. World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). First aid education for health workers. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/road_safety/first_aid/en/
  12. Mishra, R., & Singh, R. (2019). First aid training for medical students: A review. Journal of Medical Sciences, 14(1), 1-8.
Statistics
Article View: 129
PDF Download: 67