Are the Filipino domestic helpers caring the home-dwelling elders in Hong Kong competent to provide first aid in a medical emergency?

Abstract

Background:The healthcare need of the elderly in Hong Kong is a major issue. Foreign domestic helpers, especially those from the Philippines, play a significant role in response to the healthcare need of a home-dwelling elder as they are often the sole caregiver of the elders. Objectives: This study primarily aimed at exploring the Filipino domestic helpers’ knowledge of and attitude to managing a medical emergency of a home-dwelling elder.Methods:This was a questionnaire survey of the Filipino domestic helpers working in Hong Kong and was conducted from 1 July 2015 to 29 February 2016. The survey collected their demographic data, evaluated their first aid knowledge by a test of multiple-choice questions and assessed their attitudes to providing first aid to the elders they cared in terms of confidence and perceived responsibility. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings.Results:In all, 398 Filipino domestic helpers were surveyed. Most had completed university education. About one third had been trained in first aid. The average mark attained by the respondents on first aid knowledge assessment was 4.5 (full mark = 16). Their knowledge was especially poor in heat exhaustion, choking, external bleeding, epistaxis and scald injury. Their median confidence score was 10 (full score = 15) and median perceived responsibility score was 13 (full score = 20).Conclusion:The first aid knowledge among the Filipino domestic helpers surveyed in this study was poor. They were not confident enough in providing first aid to an elder and their perceived responsibility was also low.