Assessing school-based intervention strategies to foster the prevention of choking injuries in children: The results of the CHOP (CHOking Prevention) trial

Validation and usability assessment of a mobile application on first aid for children for professionals in basic education

BACKGROUND

In the school environment, the need to perform first aid is common to meet the different demands presented by children. For this, education professionals need to be trained. The versatility of mobile applications in the learning process stands out among the qualification possibilities. The aim of the study was to validate the content, and appearance and evaluate the usability of a mobile application on first aid for basic education professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This methodological study was conducted virtually throughout Brazil, between September 2023 and April 2024. Content and appearance were validated by specialist experts (doctors [n = 10] and nurses [n = 24] working in pediatrics), using the Health Educational Content Validation Tool and the Health Educational Technology Appearance Validation Tool, and the usability was assessed with the target audience using the System Usability Scale. To test validity, a minimum agreement rate of 80% was adopted. Usability items with more than 75% of responses were considered satisfactory.

RESULTS

Content and appearance validation was performed by 34 experts; in content validation, of the 14 items evaluated, 11 had the Content Validity Index per item (I-CVI) ≥ 0.91. In appearance validation, all items were evaluated with I-CVI ≥ 0.94. The total CVI was 0.93. A total of 109 primary education professionals conducted a usability evaluation, and they considered that 100% of the nine items were evaluated as satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

The app "Criança and Cuidado - Aprenda primeiros socorros" (Child and Care - Learn first aid), which aims to teach first aid to primary school professionals, was considered valid in terms of its content and appearance. It showed good usability and satisfaction among the target audience.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of First Aid Management of Choking Among Primary School Teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Understanding first aid is crucial for immediate intervention during health emergencies, with choking representing a significant danger, particularly for young children. Obstructed airways commonly lead to choking incidents, carrying substantial risks if not swiftly dealt with. This research endeavors to evaluate the comprehension, perspectives, and implementation of first aid measures for choking incidents among primary school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an area of paramount importance with minimal existing research within this particular demographic.

METHODOLOGY

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from the beginning of July till the end of October 2023, among 447 primary school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data collection was carried out by administering a questionnaire through an online platform. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge about signs and symptoms of choking, the attitude of participants, participant's practice, and the relationship between the knowledge level about choking and practice. The data collected were reviewed, coded, and then fed into IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29 (Released 2023; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).  Results: Our study on first aid management of choking among primary school teachers highlighted significant findings. Participants demonstrated high awareness of choking signs with 386 (86.3%) recognizing universal signs and 330 (73.8%) claiming proficiency in first aid. Attitudes favored the importance of immediate treatment in 394 participants (88.1%) and the necessity of first aid knowledge for teachers (92.2%). One-hundred and fifty-one participants (33.8%) reported performing choking first aid with 328 (73.4%) opting for the Heimlich maneuver for a six-year-old. Significantly, higher knowledge correlated with increased first aid performance (p < 0.001) and support for mandatory training (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates a higher knowledge level in primary school teachers with positive attitudes and practices regarding choking first aid management. It underscores the importance of enhancing first aid training among primary school teachers, emphasizing its positive impact on choking management and the necessity of immediate intervention in such cases.

Accidental Choking in Children: An Area To Be Focused on

Choking is one of the important modes of death in young children who are dying of unintentional injuries. Anatomical and physiological characteristics while eating could increase the incidence of choking in children under four years. Here, we have described two classical cases of choking in young children and discussed the important areas to be addressed. Parental awareness and education will be the important strategy that can prevent the incidence of choking.

Epidemiology and Trends over Time of Foreign Body Injuries in the Pediatric Emergency Department

This paper presents the epidemiology of foreign body injuries in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) of Padova (Italy) along with its trends over an eleven-year period based on administrative data. Annual incidence rates (IRs) of PED presentations for foreign body (FB) injuries per 1000 person-years were calculated. Univariable and multivariable generalized linear (GLM) Poisson models were estimated to evaluate the relationship between FB injury incidence and year, triage priority, nationality, injury site, and FB type. During the study period, there were 217,900 presentations of pediatric residents in the province of Padova; of these, 3084 (1.5%) reported FB injuries involving the ears, nose, throat, gastrointestinal tract or eyes. The annual IR of FB injury episodes increased from 10.45 for 1000 residents in 2007 (95% CI, 9.24, 11.77) to 12.66 for 1000 residents in 2018 (95% CI, 11.35, 14.08). Nonfood items were the FBs that were most frequently reported. The intermediate urgent triage code was the most represented for FB injuries, with IRs ranging from 5.44 (95% CI: 4.59, 6.40) in 2008 to 8.56 in 2018 (95% CI: 7.50, 9.74). A total of 170 patients who presented for FB injuries were hospitalized (5.5%). The annual FB-related injury IR has increased over time, although most episodes are not life threatening. Educational and prevention programs on FB-related injuries should be promoted and dedicated to childcare providers.