A Survey of Snakebite Knowledge among Field Forces in China
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Design and Sample
2.2. Data Collection
2.3. Statistical Analysis
2.4. Ethical Approval
3. Results
3.1. Participant Demographics
3.2. Self-Evaluation
3.3. Knowledge about Snakebites
3.4. Knowledge Misperception
4. Discussion
4.1. Self-Evaluation
4.2. General Knowledge about Snakebites
4.3. Knowledge about Preventive Measures and First-Aid
4.4 Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | n (%) |
---|---|
Gender | |
Male | 214 (100.0) |
Female | 0 (0.0) |
Age (years) | |
≤20 | 58 (27.1) |
21~30 | 150 (70.1) |
31~40 | 5 (2.3) |
No response | 1 (0.5) |
Nationality | |
Han | 205 (95.8) |
Minorities | 9 (4.2) |
Military Service Time (years) | |
≤5 | 156 (73.9) |
6~10 | 41 (19.2) |
11~15 | 14 (6.5) |
No response | 3 (1.4) |
Educational level | |
Bachelor degree or above | 49 (22.9) |
College degree | 40 (18.7) |
Vocational degree | 42 (19.6) |
Senior high school diploma | 69 (32.2) |
Junior high school diploma or below | 12 (5.6) |
No response | 2 (0.9) |
Relatives or friends working in healthcare field | |
Yes | 87 (40.7) |
No | 127 (59.3) |
Questions | n (%) ** |
---|---|
Which of the following are high-incidence periods of snakebite? | |
① Noontime | 10 (4.7) |
② Nighttime * | 164 (76.6) |
③ After the rain * | 101 (47.2) |
④ Summer * | 206 (96.3) |
⑤ Winter | 1 (0.5) |
The correct answers: ②③④ | 76 (35.5) |
What are the symptoms of snakebite? | |
① Local bleeding and swelling * | 166 (77.6) |
② Severe pain at the site of the bite * | 140 (65.4) |
③ Nausea and vomiting * | 137 (64.0) |
④ Drowsiness and weakness * | 128 (59.8) |
⑤ Dizziness * | 175 (81.8) |
No response | 3 (1.4) |
The correct answers: ①②③④⑤ | 68 (31.8) |
When handling dead snakes, people may suffer venom injection by an accidental scratch from the fang of a snake’s severed head. | |
True * | 194 (90.7) |
False | 20 (9.3) |
The venomous snake’s head is usually oval shaped, with regular teeth marks | |
True | 66 (30.8) |
False * | 146 (68.2) |
Questions | n (%) ** |
---|---|
Which of the following behaviors are likely to cause a snakebite during field training? | |
① Wear proper shoes or boots and long trousers instead of sandals or bare-foot. | 22 (10.3) |
② Straight over rocks or logs rather than step on them. * | 64 (29.9) |
③ Do not use a light (torch, flashlight or lamp) when walking at night. * | 113 (52.8) |
④ Rest near the holes, nests and other hidden places. * | 184 (86.0) |
No response | 3 (1.4) |
The correct answers: ②③④ | 16 (7.5) |
What would you do with the wound if someone suffered a snakebite? | |
① Rinsing (not scrubbing) the wound with water as soon as possible. * | 188 (87.9) |
② Attempt to suck the venom out of the wound. | 161 (75.2) |
③ Application of ice packs. | 60 (28.0) |
④ Making local incisions at the site of the bite. | 189 (88.3) |
⑤ Application of alcohol. | 57 (26.6) |
⑥ Massage the bite wound. | 10 (4.7) |
The correct answers: ① | 5 (2.3) |
Apart from calling for help, which of the following first-aid measures would you take if someone suffered a snakebite? | |
① Tell him/her to stay calm. * | 166 (77.6) |
② Immobilize the victim’s whole body, especially the wounded limb. * | 158 (73.8) |
③ Raise the site of the bite above the level of the person’s heart. | 28 (13.1) |
④ Application of tight tourniquets around the upper part of the limb. | 200 (93.5) |
⑤ Applying a pressure immobilization bandage. * | 37 (17.3) |
No response | 1 (0.5) |
The correct answers: ①②⑤ | 2 (0.9) |
Actual Knowledge Status | Self-Evaluated Knowledge Status, n (%) | Weighted Kappa, κ | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poor | Average | Good | Total | ||
Poor | 6 (2.8) | 34 (15.9) | 17 (7.9) | 57 (26.6) | 0.0237 |
Average | 9 (4.2) | 89 (41.6) | 58 (27.1) | 156 (72.9) | |
Good | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.5) | |
Total | 15 (7.0) | 124 (57.9) | 75 (35.0) | 214 (100.0) |
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Chen, C.; Gui, L.; Kan, T.; Li, S.; Qiu, C. A Survey of Snakebite Knowledge among Field Forces in China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14010015
Chen C, Gui L, Kan T, Li S, Qiu C. A Survey of Snakebite Knowledge among Field Forces in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14010015
Chicago/Turabian StyleChen, Chulin, Li Gui, Ting Kan, Shuang Li, and Chen Qiu. 2017. "A Survey of Snakebite Knowledge among Field Forces in China" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 1: 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14010015