JURNAL EMPATHY Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Vol.
No.
December 2025 DOI : https://doi.
org/10.
37341/jurnalempathy.
Community-Based Health Education to Improve MountaineersAo Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Mountain-Related Health Emergencies Yuddy Imowanto1*.
Dwiwardoyo Triyuliarto2.
Muhammad Azis Zaelani3.
Erka Wahyu Kinanda4.
Thoriq Murtadho Muthohari5.
Arie Tejamukti L6
1,2,3,4,5,6
Emergency Medicine Specialist Training Program.
Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya.
Saiful Anwar General Hospital ABSTRACT Background: Mountain climbers are at risk of altitude-related medical problems such as hypothermia, acute mountain sickness (AMS), and traumatic injuries.
Adequate knowledge and attitudes are essential to improve preparedness among outdoor enthusiast This community service activity aimed to improve mountaineersAo knowledge and attitudes regarding the prevention, early recognition, and basic management of mountain-related health emergencies through a structured health education program in Malang City.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received: September 25th, 2025 Accepted: December 15th, 2025 Methods: This community service activity was conducted on August 30, 2025, in Malang City in collaboration with the Tiket Pendakian community.
A total of 45 participants took part in health education sessions, interactive discussions, and field simulations on mountain-related health risks and emergency Evaluation was carried out through pre- and postactivity assessments of participantsAo knowledge and attitudes, as well as feedback on the implementation and benefits of the momoyuddy280773@ub.
Emergency Medicine Specialist Training Program.
Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya.
Saiful Anwar General Hospital Results: The mean knowledge score significantly increased from 9 to 91.
6 ( 9.
6 points.
p=0.
CohenAos d=0.
, indicating a moderate effect size.
The mean attitude score was 34.
2 (SD A3.
out of a maximum of 40, reflecting a generally positive attitude towards prevention and first aid in outdoor settings.
KEYWORDS
altitude hazards.
first aid.
outdoor community CONTACT Yuddy Imowanto This article is an open access article licensed under Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY Conclusion: The integrated educational program effectively improved participantsAo knowledge of altitude-related hazards and reinforced positive attitudes towards preparedness.
Similar interventions could be replicated in other outdoor enthusiast communities to strengthen resilience and self-reliance among Cite this as: Imowanto Y.
Triyuliarto D.
Zaelani MA.
Kinanda EW.
Muthohari TM.
Tejamukti LA.
Community-based health education to improve mountaineersAo knowledge and attitudes toward mountain-related health emergencies.
Jurnal Empathy Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat.
https://doi.
org/10.
37341/jurnalempathy.
INTRODUCTION
Mountaineering activities are becoming increasingly popular in Indonesia.
however, they bring specific medical risks associated with high-altitude environmentsAi hypoxia, cold exposure.
UV radiation, and dehydrationAiwhich may result in acute https://jurnalempathy.
com/index.
php/jurnalempathy/ | 93 mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), hypothermia, and heat-related illness (HRI) during the dry season .
Ae.
Management of severe cases remains focused on AudescentAy with supplemental oxygen and, if necessary, portable hyperbaric chambers, but recent clinical guidelines emphasize prevention through acclimatization, controlled ascent rate, hydration, and prophylactic medications when indicated .
Ae.
Conversely, outdoor activities in cold and extreme weather increase the risk of hypothermia and the Autrauma triadAy .
ypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopath.
Ae.
Therefore, rapid and organized prehospital managementAiincluding prevention of afterdrop, gradual rewarming, and appropriate referralAiis crucial.
More frequent and intense heat waves have altered the risk profile in the field.
According to international sports consensus and reports from urban emergency responses, early recognition, prompt diagnosis, and rapid on-site cooling are the key determinants of outcome in exertional heat stroke .
Ae.
At the same time, evidence from wilderness and community first responder education demonstrates improved knowledge, preparedness, and skill retention, while sustaining essential competencies .
Ae.
Malang and its surrounding areas host active mountaineering communities with limited access to healthcare services along mountain trails.
Practical knowledge gaps remain regarding issues such as when to stop climbing, principles of spinal immobilization, and proper communication and evacuation proceduresAifrequently observed among climbers in diverse environments .
Ae.
Furthermore, mountain emergency data highlights the need for integrating education, simulation, and communication planning into community programs, given that hypothermia and environmental injuries contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality .
Although clinical guidelines and wilderness medicine recommendations are widely available, the application of this knowledge at the mountaineering community level remains limited, especially among non-medical groups.
Community-based health education programs are a strategic approach to bridge this gap by raising risk awareness, strengthening first aid capacity, and building collective preparedness and emergency response in environments with limited access to health services.
Through a combination of structured education, interactive discussions, and field simulations, these activities are expected to encourage safer decision-making during climbs and reduce preventable morbidity and mortality in mountainous areas .
In this context, this program aims to enhance the understanding of climbing community members regarding altitude-related hazards, first aid for trauma, and survival techniques through integrated education, interactive discussions, and field simulations.
preAepost evaluation was conducted to assess the impact on both cognitive knowledge and attitudes .
Ae5,9Ae13,16Ae18,.
METHODS
This community service activity was conducted on August 30, 2025, in collaboration with the Tiket Pendakian community located in Malang City.
Indonesia.
The partner community consists of active mountain climbers and outdoor enthusiasts.
total of 45 participants were involved in the activity, including students, employees, and members of outdoor communities.
The community service activity was carried out in several stages.
Prior to the activity, coordination with community partners was conducted, educational materials were prepared, and evaluation instruments were developed.
https://jurnalempathy.
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php/jurnalempathy/ | 94 Preparation Stage Prior to the implementation of the activity, the community service team coordinated with the mountaineering community partners to agree on the objectives, targets, and timing of the program.
During the preparation stage, the team compiled and prepared health education materials tailored to the characteristics of the participants and the conditions of the climbing site.
In addition, evaluation instruments in the form of knowledge and attitude questionnaires were developed to measure changes before and after the intervention.
All preparations were carried out systematically to ensure that the community service activities could run effectively, in a structured manner, and in accordance with the needs of the partners.
Implementation Stage The implementation method consisted of health education and counseling, training and socialization, as well as workshops and practical field simulations.
The educational materials focused on mountain-related health risks, including altitude-related hazards, hypothermia.
AMS, trauma first aid, and basic survival techniques for mountaineers.
The activities were delivered by lecturers and facilitators using interactive approaches to encourage active participation and knowledge exchange.
Participants also completed an initial assessment to evaluate baseline knowledge and attitudes related to mountain health and safety.
During the main activity, health education sessions, interactive discussions, and practical simulations were conducted in an integrated manner to enhance participantsAo understanding and skills in managing mountain-related emergencies.
Monitoring and Evaluation Stage Monitoring and evaluation were conducted both during and after the activity.
Monitoring during the activity was performed through direct observation of participant engagement and interaction throughout discussions and simulations.
Post-activity evaluation was carried out using questionnaires to assess changes in participantsAo knowledge and attitudes, as well as their satisfaction with the implementation of activities, facilitators, methods, and the overall benefits of the program.
Knowledge evaluation consisted of 15 true or false or AudonAot knowAy questions covering altitude hazards, trauma first aid, and survival techniques, while attitudes were assessed using Likert-scale statements related to mountain safety and preparedness.
All participant data were anonymized, and with the approval of the community partner, this activity was conducted as part of the community service program of the Faculty of Medicine.
Brawijaya University.
Table 1.
Operationalization of Research Instruments Domain Measured Knowledge of Type of Statement/Item True/False/DonAot Know answers Scale & Scoring True = 1.
False/DonAot Know = 0.
converted to 0Ae100 Purpose of Measurement in participantsAo before and after the intervention Output Analysis Mean preAe post scores, paired t-test.
Wilcoxon.
CohenAos d https://jurnalempathy.
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php/jurnalempathy/ | 95 Domain Measured Attitudes ParticipantsAo evaluation of the program Type of Scale & Statement/Item Scoring Likert-scale Likert scale 1Ae Disagree, 2 = Somewhat Disagree, 3 = Agre.
Purpose of Measurement participantsAo attitudes preAe Output Analysis Total score .
Ae.
, paired t-test.
Wilcoxon facilitators, and satisfaction and perception of Mean .
Ae.
Likert scale 1Ae Strongly Disagree, 4 = Strongly Agre.
RESULTS The community service activity was attended by 45 members of the Tiket Pendakian community in Malang City, who participated fully in all stages of the program.
During the preparation stage, participant characteristics were identified to ensure the suitability of educational materials.
The majority of participants were male .
2%), with ages ranging from 17 to 45 years.
Most participants had a high school educational background and represented diverse occupations, including students, employees, and active mountain climbers (Table .
Table 2.
Characteristics of Community Service Participants .
= .
Characteristic Gender Age .
Educational level Occupation Participation Category Male Female 17Ae45 Senior high school or equivalent Students, employees, active mountaineers Completed all program stages During the implementation stage, participants actively engaged in health education sessions, interactive discussions, and field simulations related to altitude-related health risks, trauma first aid, and basic survival techniques.
Knowledge evaluation conducted before and after the activity showed an improvement in participantsAo understanding of mountain-related health issues.
The mean knowledge score increased from 81.
9 before the activity to 91.
6 after the activity, indicating a meaningful improvement following the educational intervention.
Evaluation of participantsAo attitudes toward mountain safety and preparedness revealed a slight increase in mean scores after the activity, from 14.
64 to 14.
Although this change was not statistically significant, participants maintained a positive attitude toward the importance of health preparedness during mountain activities, reflecting a consistently favorable perception throughout the program.
https://jurnalempathy.
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php/jurnalempathy/ | 96 Figure 1.
Health education session, .
Simulation Program evaluation was carried out after the completion of all activities to assess participant satisfaction and perceived benefits.
The results demonstrated high levels of satisfaction, with a mean total score of 26.
3 out of a maximum score of 32.
Participants particularly valued the practical field simulations, which received the highest evaluation score, indicating strong appreciation for hands-on learning methods.
The lowest evaluation score, which remained within a favorable range, was related to the duration of training, suggesting that participants perceived the activity time as adequate but potentially improving.
Table 2.
Changes in Knowledge.
Attitude, and Program Evaluation Scores Before and After the Community-Based Education Program .
= .
Domain Pre-test Mean Post-test Mean Mean Difference .
p-value CohenAos d Knowledge Attitude Evaluation* Ae Ae 3 A 2.
Ae Ae Overall, the results of this community service activity demonstrate that the program was well implemented from preparation to evaluation stages.
The intervention successfully improved participantsAo knowledge of mountain-related health risks, maintained positive attitudes toward safety and preparedness, and was positively received by participants, particularly due to the inclusion of practical simulation activities.
Pre-test Post-Test Knowledge Attitude Figure 1.
Comparison of Knowledge and Attitude Scores Before and After the Community-Based Education Program https://jurnalempathy.
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DISCUSSION
The results of this activity demonstrate that members of the Tiket Pendakian community gained significant knowledge after receiving an integrated educational With a moderate effect size, the mean knowledge score increased from 81.
Previous studies have shown that short community-based interventions can effectively enhance basic health knowledge in extreme environments .
Ae.
This finding is consistent with those results.
In contrast, changes in attitudes did not show statistical significance, although there was a small increase of 0.
20 points.
This may be explained by the fact that attitudes are generally more stable than knowledge.
For values to be internalized, changes in attitudes require more intensive, repeated, and sustained interventions .
Ae.
Therefore, actual attitudes and behaviors may be better shaped through follow-up activities such as training of trainers (ToT), repeated field practice, and incorporation of materials into the communityAos routine activities.
Participants provided very positive evaluations of the program, with mean scores exceeding 3 on every aspect measured on a 1Ae4 Likert scale.
The simulation item received the highest score, suggesting that hands-on practice was valued more highly than lectures This finding supports previous research indicating that field simulation is an effective learning approach in emergency education .
Ae.
In addition to measurable knowledge improvement, this educational activity has important implications for increasing the preparedness of the mountaineering community in dealing with health emergencies in mountainous environments.
Better knowledge of the warning signs of altitude sickness, hypothermia, and injuries enables participants to make safer decisions, such as stopping the climb, evacuating early, or providing appropriate first aid .
Ae.
This impact has the potential to reduce the risk of delays in handling emergencies, which often occur on climbing routes with limited access to health services.
From a community capacity building perspective, this activity also contributes to enhancing the role of climbers as first responders in their respective environments.
Hikers who have basic emergency knowledge and skills can be a source of information and initial assistance for other group members before professional help arrives.
This is in line with the principle of community service that emphasizes community empowerment to be able to manage risks independently and sustainably, especially in high-risk activities such as mountain climbing .
Ae.
Another equally important implication is the formation of a community-based health education model that can be replicated in other climbing areas.
The integration of educational materials, interactive discussions, and field simulations has been proven to increase participant engagement and can be an effective approach in similar programs.
With the support of cross-sector collaboration, such as SAR organizations.
PSC 119 services, and hiking trail managers, this program has the potential to develop into a sustainable preventive education system.
In the long term, this approach is expected to contribute to improving hiking safety and reducing the number of preventable emergencies in mountainous environments .
Ae.
Furthermore, this activity helped establish a strong relationship between the implementing team and the community.
Such collaboration may facilitate the development of sustainable programs, including regular simulation sessions, partnerships with SAR organizations or PSC 119, and the use of self-learning educational modules.
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php/jurnalempathy/ | 98 Despite these positive outcomes, several limitations should be acknowledged.
The absence of a comparison group limits the ability to attribute all observed improvements solely to the intervention, as external factors may have influenced the results.
Furthermore, the use of self-reported Likert-scale instruments to assess attitudes may not fully reflect actual behavior during real mountain activities.
The short duration of the program and the lack of long-term follow-up also restrict conclusions regarding the sustainability of knowledge retention and behavioral change.
Future community service activities are therefore recommended to include longitudinal evaluations, observational assessments during field activities, and broader participant involvement to enhance the impact and sustainability of mountain health education programs.
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
This community service activity shows that community-based health education that combines material delivery, discussion, and field simulations can improve climbers' understanding of health risks and emergency response in mountainous environments.
This activity also encourages preparedness, risk awareness, and active participation of participants in emergency prevention and initial response efforts.
To bring about more sustainable changes in attitudes and behavior, similar activities need to be carried out repeatedly through tiered training, routine simulations, and the integration of educational materials into mountaineering community activities.
Expanding the scope of activities to other mountaineering communities, using more comprehensive evaluation tools, and strengthening collaboration with SAR organizations.
PSC 119, and local health agencies are recommended to build a sustainable community preparedness system and improve mountaineering safety in mountainous areas.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the Faculty of Medicine.
Universitas Brawijaya, for financial support through the community service grant program.
We also extend our appreciation to the Tiket Pendakian community of Malang City for their active participation in the activity.
Special thanks are due to the facilitators, volunteers, and all individuals who contributed to the implementation of this program, particularly those involved in preparing the materials, supporting the simulations, and processing the evaluation data.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The author declares that there is no conflict of interest regarding the results of this community service activity.
REFERENCE