Proportions of Helmet Wearing in Medical Students KhonKaen University

Abstract

Background and Objective:  Not wearing a helmet is a cause of serious motorcycle accidents.  To promote the helmet wearing among medical students, this study aims to identify proportion and related factors of helmet wearing among medical students Khon Kaen University (KKU).

Methods: This descriptive study. The sample size calculation required 140 medical students’ samples by systematic sampling. The self administrated questionnaire were used which divided into 4 parts;  1) General information 2) helmet wearing behavior 3) factor related helmet wearing 4) perception of Khon Kaen Policy on  helmet wearing.  The data abstracting and interview form were checked for completeness, the double data entered and validated in the EPI INFO for Window before the data was transferred into SPSS Khon Kaen University licensed for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were sued to describe sample characteristics such as frequency, percentage, mean, SD, median, IQR. Inferential statistics as univariate analysis were used chi-square, 95%CI and Odds Ratio.

Results: The response rate was 94.28%.The proportion of helmet wearing was 96.15% (95%CI 90.80-98.58%), Most behavior is worn at every time 29.2%, mostly 29.2%, and sometime 26.9%. Significant factors related with helmet wearing are helmet owning (OR 11.00, 95% CI 1.13-137.08%, p-value0.019), realizing the harm (OR 41.00, 95% CI 2.03-674.17%, p-value0.007), prevent dust and sunscreen (OR 10.22, 95% CI 1.05-127.13%, p-value0.022).

Conclusion: Most of medical students Khon Kaen University wear the helmet while riding on the motorcycle.  Significant factors associated with helmet wearing are helmet owning, realizing the harm, prevent dust and sunscreen.