Effect of First Aid Training on Motorcyclists and Cyclists’ Knowledge, Skills, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy in Managing Road Traffic Accident Victims in Rwanda: A Quasi-Experimental Study

BackgroundRoad traffic deaths are a leading global concern, especially for those aged 5–29. Brain damage can occur within five minutes without first aid, yet ambulances often take longer to arrive. In Rwanda, delays may be worse, motorcyclists and bicyclists who are often the first witnesses to road traffic crashes, often lack the knowledge and confidence to provide immediate assistance.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of first aid training on motorcyclists and cyclists’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and self-efficacy in Rwanda.MethodsA quasi-experimental study involved 95 motorcyclists and cyclists, conveniently selected from two Rwandan districts. A self-administered questionnaire and observational checklists were used in a one-group pre-post test design.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 33 years (SD = 7.45) and 6.56 years of driving experience (SD = 4.50). Cyclists made up 52.08%, and 38.30% had secondary or tertiary education. While 52.38% had witnessed accidents, 75.00% had no prior first aid training. Post-training, significant improvements were seen in knowledge (6.11 to 11.29), attitude (28.50 to 37.59), self-efficacy (113.25 to 157.08), and skills (22.03 to 31.78) (all p < 0.001).ConclusionFirst aid training may significantly improve motorcyclists’ and cyclists’ capacity to respond to road traffic accidents while waiting formal prehospital emergency care services to arrive on the scene of accident.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2025;8(3):473-482