Abstract:
Background: Globally, trauma-related injuries result in five million deaths annually, while spinal
cord injuries (SCI) account for 10%. Pre-hospital handling plays a crucial role in SCI
management. Public transport drivers frequently serve as first responders due to their accessibility,
with a lack of adequate training and resources for effective pre-hospital handling.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on safe pre-hospital handling of
suspected SCI victims among public transport drivers in selected suburban areas of the Colombo
District, Sri Lanka
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Nugegoda, Dehiwala-Mount
Lavinia, and Homagama. Public transport drivers aged 20-60 years, possessing a valid driving
license and at least one-year driving experience were recruited through convenience sampling
(n=422), proportionally distributed across study areas. Data were collected using a newly
developed, pre-tested and validated, interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising four
sections including socio-demographics, knowledge (MCQs), attitudes (Likert scale), and practices
(Binary scale). A 50% threshold, based on prior literature, was used to categorize knowledge and
practices. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0.
Results: The response rate was 97.6%. Most participants (86.9%) were male, 28.9% aged 52-59
years, and 38.6% had education up to G.C.E. O/L. Over half (58.7%) were full-time drivers.
Among respondents, 98.1% demonstrated good knowledge. While 97.8% recognized the
importance of the golden hour in pre-hospital handling, only 54.9% identified numbness of
extremities as a significant symptom in SCI. The mean±SD knowledge score was 76.54±11.37.
Reflecting positive attitudes, 98.9% endorsed the need of first-aid training. While 55.3% exhibited
poor practices, only 35.7% reported avoiding the use of three-wheelers for transporting SCI
victims. Notably, 84.5% had never received first-aid training.
Conclusion: Despite good knowledge and attitudes, poor practice highlights the need for first-aid
training for public transport drivers in collaboration with healthcare professionals. Integrating
SCI-specific first-aid modules into driver licensing procedures could enhance public emergency
response.
