Burn prevention and first aid: Evaluating knowledge and practices among medical students at Unaizah college of medicine, Qassim university

Burn prevention and first aid: Evaluating knowledge and practices among medical students at Unaizah college of medicine, Qassim university - Background: Burn injuries are medical emergencies that require immediate attention. Education on burn management outside hospital settings, at the scene of an accident, is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students at Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University toward burn prevention and first-aid management. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling techniques. All students at Unaizah College of Medicine were invited to participate in this study and 146 participants responded. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, administered to medical students to capture demographic details, knowledge levels, attitude and practices toward burn prevention and first aid. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to evaluate the findings. Results: Of the total participants, 66.4% were female and 33.6% were male. Among the respondents, 61.0% reported having received some form of training in first aid for burn injuries. Social media emerged as the most common source of information on burn prevention and response, cited by 39.7% of participants. Medical students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels in managing burn injuries compared to pre-medical students, with 59.7% versus 36.4%, respectively (p=0.015). Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated moderate knowledge of burn injury management, with understanding improving significantly as they advanced from pre-clinical to clinical phases. This progression highlights the importance of clinical exposure and advanced training. There is a need for structured and comprehensive training programs to equip students with the necessary skills for effective burn injury management. Keywords: Medical students, Knowledge, Burn injuries, Prevention, First aid.