Background: Dog bites represent a significant health concern leading to a variety of consequences. Nursing students should be appropriately educated in order to manage and help prevent such injuries.
Aim: This paper is the first to report the lifetime experience and characteristics of dog bites among Greek nursing students and their knowledge in managing the above injuries.
Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was performed using an anonymous questionnaire distributed to first and fourth year nursing students from April though June 2009. A knowledge score based on key questions was set on a scale from 0 to 7, to assess their competence on bite injuries management.
Results: Of 237 nursing students recruited, 56 (23.6%) had experienced a dog bite. Men outnumbered women as dog bite victims [n = 15 (39.5%) vs. n = 41 (20.6%), P = 0.012]. Mean age at the attack was 11.1 (standard deviation = 5.6) years and legs sustained the majority of injuries (n = 31; 55.4%). Most bites (n = 39; 69.9%) involved a dog known to the victim, were provoked (n = 30; 53.6%) and occurred in a public place (n = 35; 62.5%). Ten (17.9%) of the victims sustained a moderate or severe injury. The majority (67.9%) of students answered correctly to less than or equal to three out of seven key knowledge questions. After multiple linear regression analysis, previous educational course attendance was the only factor associated with increased score (b = 0.48, standard deviation = 0.17, 95% confidence interval = 0.12-0.84, P = 0.009).
Conclusions: Dog bites were common and presented characteristic patterns among nursing students, but knowledge in their management was suboptimal. Improved education should be provided during undergraduate studies.
© 2011 The Authors. International Nursing Review © 2011 International Council of Nurses.