Introduction and Objective: Acute poisoning is one of the major causes of emergency visits, and initial interventions play a crucial role in reducing complications and mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of patients admitted to the emergency department of Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in 2024 regarding first-aid measures for acute poisoning.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 166 hospitalized patients in 2024. Data were collected using a validated four-part questionnaire covering demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice. Content validity was confirmed by emergency medicine experts, and reliability was supported by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89.
Results: The mean age of participants was 48.7 years, and 72.9% were female. The mean scores were: knowledge 2.52/11, attitude 4.8/5, educational practice 0.06/4, and protective practice 2.7/4. Nearly 98% of participants demonstrated a positive attitude toward poisoning control. Protective practice was better than educational practice. A significant difference in attitude was observed by gender, with males showing more positive attitudes (p=0.003). Older participants (>48 years) demonstrated significantly higher educational and protective practices (p<0.05). A significant association was found between education level and knowledge (p=0.013), while no significant differences were observed across occupations.
Conclusion: The results revealed that patients had low knowledge but highly positive attitudes and relatively favourable protective practices toward first-aid measures in acute poisoning. Targeted educational interventions, particularly for younger and less-educated groups, are strongly recommended