Knowledge, perception, and behaviors regarding heat stroke prevention among new conscripts

Abstract

This cross–sectional descriptive research aimed to assess the conscripts’ knowledge of the heat stroke prevention, their perceptions on risks, effects of heat stroke, and benefit and obstacles of heat stroke preventions, and heat stroke prevention behaviors, and to identify factors related to heat stroke preventions. The population consisted of 143 new conscripts of the 35th Army District in Uttaradit Province.  The questionnaire measuring knowledge and perceptions regarding heat stroke prevention developed by the researcher was used to collect data, and they were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's Exact test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The research results showed that the conscripts had a high knowledge level of heat stroke prevention (60.84%), and they perceived the heat stroke risk, violence, benefit and obstacle understanding at a high level (51.75%, 42.66%, 45.46% and 51.75% respectively). Only 53.15% of them had preventive behaviors from the heat stroke at good level. The pre-conscription’s physical exercise history was found significantly associated with heat stroke prevention behaviors. Perceptions on benefit from their prevention, obstacles, risks, effects of heat stroke, and knowledge of heat stroke preventions had positive correlations with heat stroke prevention behaviors at p<0.05 (r=.62, r=.58, r=.39, r=.367, r=.24 respectively). Consequently, the armed force training units should focus on organizing activities for perception reinforcement and the new conscripts’ behavioral change regarding heat stroke prevention.