Knowledge about Burn Prevention in a Municipality in Western São Paulo: An Exploratory Study

Introduction: Burns are defined as traumatic wounds caused by various factors. Hospitalizations and consequences for burned patients have financial impacts on healthcare institutions and patients, leading to psychological and social sequelae for them and their families. In Brazil, around 1,000,000 burns occur annually. While few studies directly prove the relationship between burn prevention and case reduction, existing research indicates benefits after implementing informative campaigns. Objectives: This study aimed to exploratorily analyze the knowledge about burn prevention and related care among the population of Catanduva, SP. Methods: The study received approval from the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE 51953821.9.0000.5430; Opinion Number: 4,997,715). The study population consisted of individuals aged 18 to 79 from the specified municipality. A sample of 84 people was obtained, with a margin of error of 10.69% for a 95% confidence interval. Considering an estimated total population of 122,497 inhabitants in 2020, 24.98% were excluded (22.78% aged 0 to 17, and 2.20% aged 80 or older), leaving 91,897 inhabitants for this calculation. The online questionnaire was distributed through social media and developed by researchers with support from a plastic surgery specialist experienced in burn treatment units (BTU). However, it was not validated. Descriptive data analysis was performed using JAMOVI software (Version 2.2.5), and graphs and tables were formatted using Google Sheets. The study assigned 01 point (score) for each correctly selected answer related to burn knowledge, with a total of 12 points. The questionnaire assessed whether behaviors after a burn and other potential burn prevention practices were executed correctly. Results: The study demonstrated an average score of 8.2 (68%), which can be considered low, given the basic complexity of the questions. There was a difference between genders. Additionally, average scores were similar among individuals with completed high school and incomplete or completed higher education. Although there was a lower score among those with incomplete primary and incomplete middle education, considering the small sample size, education might not have been a significant factor. Regarding burn occurrences, only 22.6% did not experience burns. Among those who experienced or witnessed burns, the primary cause (evaluated using a multiple-choice question) was contact with hot surfaces, followed by solar radiation, scalding, and fire/explosion. Conclusion: Despite limitations in its generalizability due to a restricted sample, the exploratory study was able to demonstrate the prevalence of burns and a knowledge level close to the ideal among the population.