An assessment of parents’ knowledge regarding first aid for epistaxis among children in Syria: a cross-sectional survey study

Epistaxis is a common emergency, particularly among children, and is usually manageable with simple first-aid measures. However, misconceptions regarding appropriate management remain common, even among educated individuals. In Syria, no previous study has assessed parental knowledge regarding epistaxis first aid. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge among Syrian parents and identify factors associated with better knowledge. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2025 and February 2026 across different Syrian regions. A convenience sample of 643 parents aged ≥ 18 years with at least one child under 18 years completed a validated self-administered online questionnaire adapted from a previous Saudi Arabian study. The questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, previous experience with epistaxis, sources of information, and knowledge of first-aid management. Knowledge scores were classified as poor (≤ 5), moderate (6–11), or good (12–16). Data were analysed using independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA in IBM SPSS Statistics 27 with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A multivariable General Linear Model was conducted to identify the independent predictors of the total knowledge score. Among participants, 77.4% were women, 70.9% lived in urban areas, and 59.1% had a university degree or higher. Overall, 67.3% demonstrated moderate knowledge, while only 30.5% achieved good knowledge scores. Important misconceptions were identified regarding practical management. Only 37% correctly identified the lower part of the nose as the appropriate site for compression, whereas 33% incorrectly believed the head should be tilted backward during a nosebleed. Additionally, 92.8% overestimated the amount of bleeding considered clinically significant. Attendance at formal first-aid courses was not significantly associated with better knowledge ( p = 0.16). However, in the multivariable General Linear Model, age ( p = 0.037), male gender ( p = 0.013), working in the medical field ( p = 0.017), and information source ( p = 0.015) were found to be independent predictors of higher knowledge scores, with physician guidance as the strongest predictor ( \(\:{η\:}ₚ²=0.015,B=0.906,p=0.002\) ). The surveyed sample of Syrian parents demonstrated moderate knowledge regarding epistaxis first aid, although important practical misconceptions persist. Public health interventions should prioritize structured educational programmes focused on correcting common errors and improving first-aid practices.