KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEAT STROKE AMONG STUDENTS OF THE THAILAND NATIONAL SPORTS UNIVERSITY, CENTRAL REGION

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes toward heatstroke among undergraduate students majoring in physical education at Thailand National Sports University, Central Region. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 330 participants selected through simple random sampling from five campuses located in the central region. The research instrument was a structured questionnaire for content using the Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC = 0.95) and demonstrated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.91. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that students exhibited a low level of knowledge regarding heatstroke, with an overall mean score of 16.9 ± 0.5 out of a possible 30 points. Specifically, low scores were noted in the domains of prevention and basic first aid (5.8 ± 0.3), as well as in understanding the causes and symptoms of heatstroke (5.1 ± 0.2). In contrast, students’ overall attitudes toward heatstroke were found to be at a satisfactory level. Nevertheless, certain misconceptions persisted, particularly concerning the physiological effects of impaired sweating and elevated body temperature (3.45 ± 1.29), as well as misunderstandings related to the provision of initial first aid before hospital referral (3.41 ± 1.35). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was identified between knowledge and attitudes toward heatstroke (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). These results underscore the importance of strengthening heatstroke-related knowledge among physical education students, especially in the areas of prevention and first aid, to enhance their readiness for coping with hot weather conditions that may negatively impact physical activity and overall health.