Assessment of knowledge about first aid methods, diagnosis, and treatment of scorpion stings among health workers in Ouarzazate region, Morocco: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Scorpion envenomation (SE) is a critical and immediate medical emergency. It represents a major public health concern with significant cause of illness and death, particularly in rural regions where scorpions are more prevalent. Of note, administering appropriate first aid to scorpion sting victims is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the level of knowledge of the healthcare workers in managing such cases. This work aims to assess the levels of knowledge on the diagnosis and management of scorpion stings, as well as the attitudes toward scorpion stings, among doctors and nurses in the Ouarzazate region of Morocco. Our results showed that the prevalent health care age group is 30–39 years, and in terms of experience, the majority had less than 5 years. Additionally, the majority of the participants had no knowledge regarding scorpions’ identification. Moreover, only half participants (healthcare workers) received basic training in the management of scorpion stings and almost all of them have not benefited from continuing training. Hence, the current study showed that the understanding of scorpion sting management among healthcare providers in Ouarzazate province is inadequate to ensure proper care for sting patients, and thus including scorpion sting management in the university programs of health care provides along with clinical practice are highly required.