Abstract
Objectives
To assess the level of knowledge held by the general public regarding the treatment of epistaxis.
Methods
We have conducted a survey of patients and relatives attending the ENT outpatient department at Medway Maritime Hospital, Kent, England, during November and December 2007. The survey entailed 5 multiple choice questions regarding the immediate management of epistaxis and the risk factors predisposing to episodes of epistaxis.
Results
Of the 500 questionnaires distributed, 477 were completed legibly. Only 15.2% of respondents knew that to control epistaxis they should compress the lower part of the nose. 7.6% of patients knew the optimum period of compression to be greater than 10 minutes. 47.0% of patients knew to adopt a sitting position with the head held forward during compression. 52.7% knew the correction positioning of an ice-pack would be over the bridge of the nose, and 10.2% of respondents recognised that both aspirin and Warfarin led to an increased occurrence of epistaxis.
Conclusions
The results of the survey reveal the need for greater public awareness of the initial management of this common ENT emergency. We have designed posters and leaflets to distribute to the outpatient departments and the surgeries of general practitioners.
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