Knowledge Levels of Preschool Teachers about Airway Obstruction due to Foreign Body

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the knowledge levels of preschool teachers who work in Denizli citycenter in Turkey about foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO).Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consists of 432 preschool teachers working in primaryschools and kindergartens located in Denizli city center. Participants were administered a questionnaire thatconsisted of 28 questions. For each participant, the knowledge scores about FBAO were calculated. Each participant can score a minimum of 0.0 and maximum of 28.0 points.Results: For this study, 204 preschool teachers working in 27 schools were selected. The mean age of the participants was 33.5±5.3 years and 185 (98.4%) were female. Twenty-three (12.2%) of the teachers had previouslycome across airway obstruction due to foreign body. One hundred forty-two (76.3%) of the participants findtheir knowledge levels insufficient and 151 (80.7%) of them want to get educated. Teachers’ knowledge scoreabout FBAO was 11.6±5.5. Teachers’ knowledge scores who had two and more children and those who geteducated before were higher and teachers’ knowledge scores who want additional education were found tobe lower (p=0.010, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).Conclusion: The knowledge level of preschool teachers in Turkey about FBAO was low. Teachers were aware ofthis insufficiency and they were willing to get educated about this issue.