Assessment of Awareness of First-Aid Epistaxis Management Amongst Surgical Staff at a Tertiary Surgical Centre in Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Epistaxis is the most common ENT emergency seen in A&E and inpatient settings. Efficient first-aid management is crucial to reduce morbidity, prevent complications and minimize inappropriate specialist referrals. In hospitals without an on-site ENT department, the general surgery team is often the first point of contact for patients presenting with epistaxis. Data on surgical staff awareness towards its initial management remains limited.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Omdurman Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan, from January 2023 to April 2023. A structured self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all surgical doctors across 6 different units assessing the awareness of first-aid epistaxis management principles. Data were analysed descriptively, presenting results as frequencies and percentages. 
Results: A total of 105 surgical doctors were surveyed in this study, with 32 registrars and 73 middle-grade doctors. The overall mean knowledge score among all participants was 2.53 out of a maximum score of 5. Just below half of participants (49.5%) achieved a score of ≥3/5, while only four participants (3.8%) achieved full marks. No participant scored zero. Surgical registrars demonstrated higher knowledge scores compared with middle-grade doctors, with mean scores of 3.38/5 and 2.16/5, respectively. 
Conclusion: The study demonstrated significant gaps in knowledge regarding the first aid management of epistaxis amongst surgical staff at Omdurman Teaching Hospital. Local educational initiatives dedicated towards increasing knowledge and awareness of this common clinical presentation are imperative to reduce the risk of complications.