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Authors: Azzah A. Al-Jabarti , Abdullah K. Mohammed Khalil , Asmaa M. Alrawi , Razan A. ZainAlden , Asala T. Alsaigh , Elham O. Sindi , Refal N. Jaha

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Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the extent of public knowledge of the causes, management, and preventive measures of common physical traumas among the adult population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We distributed a questionnaire provided in both Arabic and English among all willing adults above 18 years old who were not involved in health advocating services/studies present in two malls in the northern and southern parts of Jeddah City. The questionnaire was distributed from December 2016 to November 2017.Data were collected and interpreted using an SPSS spreadsheet. Results: In total, 911 participants were enrolled in this study; 47% (n = 429) were men, and 53% (n = 482) were women. The no-response rate among the variables ranged from 2% to 12%. The age group with the highest number enrolled was 25-34 years (38%, n = 348). The majority of participants were employed (56%, n = 489), and up to 95% (n = 864) agreed on the importance of trauma education. Almost half of the participants (n = 415) had never heard of the tetanus vaccine, and only 18% (n = 168) had a cut that required medical attention. Pouring water on the wound and applying pressure were the main actions taken in case of bleeding from an injury (33%, n = 301). About 30% (n = 270) of the participants suffered from bone fractures, the main cause of which was falling (44%). Almost half of the participants (43%, n = 391) agreed that children and elderly individuals were the most prone to bone fractures from falls. Of the 359 participants with a history of traffic accidents, 44% were passengers. 21% (n = 188) of the participants had burns that required medical attention; hot water was the dominant cause (53%). Conclusion: Public awareness and guided planning for situational hazards and early reporting are crucial and part of our responsibility as healthcare advocates regardless of gender, age group, or educational level. In this study, the majority of participants agreed on the importance of trauma management education.

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Keywords: Trauma, injuries, public awareness, public education

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