Basic life support: knowledge and attitude of medical/paramedical professionals

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2012.02.011

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Basic life support (BLS), a key component of the chain of survival decreases the arrest - cardiopulmonary resuscitation interval and increases the rate of hospital discharge. The study aimed to explore the knowledge of and attitude towards basic life support (BLS) among medical/paramedical professionals.

METHODS: An observational study was conducted by assessing response to self prepared questionnaire consisting of the demographic information of the medical/paramedical staff, their personnel experience/attitude and knowledge of BLS based on the 2005 BLS Guidelines of European Resuscitation Council.

RESULTS: After excluding incomplete questionnaires, the data from 121 responders (27 clinical faculty members, 21 dental and basic sciences faculty members, 29 house officers and 44 nurses and health assistants) were analyzed. Only 9 (7.4%) of the 121 responders answered ≥11, 53 (43%) answered 7-10, and 58 (48%) answered <7 of 15 questions correctly. The clinical faculty members, house officers and nurses/HA had a mean score of 7.4±3.15, 7.37±2.02 and 6.63±2.16 respectively, while dental/basic sciences faculty members attained a least mean score of 4.52 ±2.13 (P<0.001). Those who had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training within 5 years obtained a highest mean score of 8.62±2.49, whereas those who had the training more than 5 years back or no training obtained a mean score of 5.54±2.38 and 6.1±2.29 respectively (P=0.001). Those who were involved in resuscitation frequently had a higher median score of 8 in comparison to those who were seldom involved or not involved at all (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The average health personnel in our hospital lack adequate knowledge in CPR/BLS. Training and experience can enhance knowledge of CPR of these personnel. Thus standard of CPR/BLS training and assessment are recommended at our hospital.

Key words: Basic life support (BLS), Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Training, Knowledge, Attitude

Shrestha Roshana, Batajoo KH, Piryani RM, Sharma MW. Basic life support: knowledge and attitude of medical/paramedical professionals[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2012, 3(2): 141-145.

Figures/Tables 4

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Opinions	Nnmber	Percentage
I. Who should be trained in BLS?
ER health personnel	11	9
All health personnel	93	76.8
General public	38	31.2
II. Inclusion of BLS in undergraduate curriculum
1^st year	17	14
2^nd year	20	16.5
3^rd year	43	35.5
4^th year	13	10.7
5^th year	22	18
Not to be included	6	4.9
III. Reluctance to perform resuscitation
Not reluctant	100	82.6
Reasons for reluctance:	21	17.4
Further harm to patients	7	5.7
Transmission of disease	1	0.8
Ineffectiveness	10	8.2
Taking responsibilities	3	2.4
IV. Mouth to mouth ventilation
Willing to perform without any hesitancy	33	27
Prefer to use some type of barrier	78	64
Would stay back and let someone else to volunteer	2	2
Refuse to perform	8	7

Questions	Correct (%)	Incorrect (%)	Don't know (%)
1. CPR stands for:	117 (96.7)	4 (3.3)	0 (0)
2. "No signs of life" means:	79 (65.2)	41 (34)	1 (0.8)
3. Man collapses/Scene safe/What next?	61 (50.4)	59 (48.8)	1 (0.8)
4. Open airway of unresponsive injured victim:	40 (33)	77 (63.7)	4 (3.3)
5. Victim not breathing. What next?	27 (22.3)	92 (76.1)	2 (1.6)
6. Unwilling to perform mouth to mouth CPR.What next?	67 (55.4)	52 (43)	2 (1.6)
7. Location of hands for CPR in adults:	60 (49.6)	57 (47.1)	4 (3.3)
8. Rate of chest compression in adults:	60 (49.6)	55 (45.5)	6 (4.9)
9. Depth of chest compression in adults:	36 (29.7)	70 (57.9)	15 (12.4)
10. Ratio of chest compression and ventilation in adults:	60 (49.6)	55 (45.5)	6 (4.9)
11.Rescue breathing in infants:	33 (27.3)	78 (64.4)	10 (8.3)
12.Ratio of chest compression and ventilation in children:	40 (33)	65 (54)	16 (13)
13.Depth of chest compression in infants:	60 (49.6)	33 (27.3)	28 (23.1)
14.Choking adults:	23 (19)	92 (76.1)	6 (4.9)
15.Choking infant:	31 (25.6)	73 (60.4)	17 (14)

Demographics	Number	Minimal score	Maximal score	Mean score	Standard deviation	P value
Duration of clinical work (yr)
<1	20	2	14	7.3	3.07964	0.91
1-5	55	3	13	6.8182	2.25332
5-10	18	2	10	6.2778	2.5623
>10	15	1	11	6.5333	2.47463
Qualification
Clinical faculty members	27	2	14	7.4074	3.15326	<0.001
Dental/Basic faculty members	21	1	8	4.5238	2.13586
House officers	29	2	11	7.3793	2.02509
Nurses/HA	44	3	11	6.6364	2.16839
Previous training
No	83	1	11	6.1084	2.29002	<0.001
yes <5 yr	27	5	14	8.6296	2.49843
yes >5 yr	11	2	9	5.5455	2.38175

Resuscitation experience	Number	Median score	Q1, Q3	P value
No	28	5	3,7	<0.001
Frequent	48	8	8,10
Seldom	45	5	4,6

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