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Effect of First-Aid Training on First-Aid Knowledge among Commercial Motorcyclists in Nigeria

Abstract

Commercial motorcyclists are frequently exposed to road traffic crashes and other injuries that may require immediate first-aid response before professional medical care is available. In Nigeria, delays in reaching appropriate healthcare facilities, traffic congestion, remote locations, limited emergency medical services, and the high frequency of motorcycle-related injuries may increase the importance of basic first-aid knowledge among commercial motorcyclists. Appropriate first-aid knowledge can enable motorcyclists to recognize emergencies, protect injured persons from further harm, control bleeding, provide basic support for fractures and other injuries, and seek appropriate emergency assistance. However, many commercial motorcyclists may have limited access to structured first-aid training, resulting in inadequate knowledge and potentially inappropriate responses during emergencies. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of first-aid training on first-aid knowledge among commercial motorcyclists in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on Social Cognitive Theory, the Health Belief Model, and Experiential Learning Theory. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the roles of knowledge, observational learning, self-efficacy, and environmental influences in shaping first-aid preparedness and emergency response behaviour. The Health Belief Model explains how motorcyclists' perceptions of their susceptibility to road traffic injuries, perceived severity of emergencies, perceived benefits of first-aid training, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence participation in training and willingness to apply first-aid knowledge. Experiential Learning Theory emphasizes learning through practical experience, demonstration, practice, reflection, and application, making it particularly relevant to practical first-aid training. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how first-aid training may influence first-aid knowledge among commercial motorcyclists in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise adult commercial motorcyclists operating in selected communities, motor parks, transport terminals, and commercial routes across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, motor parks, motorcycle associations, communities, and eligible commercial motorcyclists. First-aid training will be measured using indicators such as exposure to structured first-aid training, training frequency, duration of training, theoretical instruction, practical demonstrations, hands-on practice, training on emergency recognition, bleeding control, fracture management, wound care, burns, fainting, shock, basic life support, safe casualty handling, emergency communication, and referral procedures. First-aid knowledge will be assessed using indicators such as knowledge of emergency assessment, scene safety, bleeding control, wound management, fracture and suspected spinal injury management, burns, shock, fainting, basic life support, emergency communication, appropriate referral, and recognition of situations requiring professional medical care. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and standardized or appropriately validated first-aid knowledge assessment instruments administered before and after the training intervention where a quasi-experimental design is used. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' demographic and occupational characteristics, previous first-aid exposure, baseline knowledge, and post-training knowledge levels. Inferential statistical techniques, including paired or independent sample tests, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of first-aid training on first-aid knowledge. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that first-aid training has a significant positive effect on first-aid knowledge among commercial motorcyclists in Nigeria. Motorcyclists exposed to structured first-aid training are expected to demonstrate improved knowledge of emergency recognition, scene safety, bleeding control, fracture management, burns, shock, basic life support, safe casualty handling, and appropriate referral compared with their baseline knowledge or motorcyclists without similar training. Practical demonstrations and hands-on training are expected to improve participants' understanding and confidence in responding appropriately to common motorcycle-related emergencies. Improved knowledge may increase motorcyclists' preparedness to provide immediate assistance while awaiting professional medical care and may reduce the likelihood of harmful first-aid practices. However, limited training opportunities, low educational resources, misconceptions about first aid, lack of refresher training, time constraints, and inadequate access to qualified first-aid instructors may limit the sustainability of acquired knowledge. The study therefore expects structured, practical, and periodic first-aid training to contribute significantly to improved first-aid knowledge among commercial motorcyclists in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on first-aid training, first-aid knowledge, commercial motorcyclists, road traffic injury prevention, emergency preparedness, occupational safety, community health, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, state ministries of health, motorcycle associations, transport unions, emergency medical services, road safety organizations, first-aid training institutions, public health practitioners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving emergency preparedness among commercial motorcyclists. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating first-aid training into commercial motorcyclist registration and continuing education programmes, strengthening practical emergency-response training, providing refresher courses, improving access to first-aid materials, promoting safe casualty handling, and establishing appropriate referral and emergency communication systems for commercial motorcyclists across Nigeria.

Keywords: First-aid training, first-aid knowledge, commercial motorcyclists, emergency preparedness, road traffic injuries, emergency response, occupational safety, injury prevention, community health, Nigeria, public health.