A cross-sectional study to assess knowledge and attitudes related to Basic Life Support among undergraduate medical students in Tamil Nadu, India

• Authors: G. Mani , K. Annadurai , R. Danasekaran , JD. Ramasamy
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

Introduction: Basic life support (BLS) with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provided at the right time greatly improves survival following cardiac arrest. Adequate knowledge and skills related to BLS are essential requisites for medical students. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to BLS among undergraduate medical students of a medical college in Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among 241 undergraduate medical students of a medical college in Tamil Nadu, between May and July 2012, using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire devised based on American Heart Association Guidelines for BLS and CPR 2010. Results: The mean knowledge score of the participants was 4.55 ± 1.21 out of a possible high score of 6. The level of knowledge and attitudes related to BLS varied depending on the year of study, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The knowledge score decreased with increasing duration of training. The higher the year of study, the more positive the participants’ attitudes were. Only 12.9% of the participants had ever practised BLS. Twenty-one (21) participants (8.7%) expressed reluctance about performing BLS in a hospital setting, and 57.3% of the participants expressed reluctance about performing BLS in an out-of-hospital setting. Fear of acquiring infection, causing harm to the victim, and lack of confidence were the common causes for participants’ reluctance. Conclusions: The study reveals inadequate knowledge and practices related to BLS among students. The differences in knowledge and attitudes among students, depending on the year of study, point to the need for frequent refresher training and motivation of students.

Keywords

EN

basic life support (BLS); cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); knowledge; attitude; practices (KAP); medical students

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku
• Journal: Progress in Health Sciences
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 47-52

Contributors

author

G. Mani

author

K. Annadurai

author

R. Danasekaran

author

JD. Ramasamy

References

• Koster RW, Baubin MA, Bossaert LL, Caballero A, Cassan P, Castrén M, Granja C, Handley AJ, Monsieurs KG, Perkins GD, Raffay V, Sandroni C. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2010 Section 2. Adult basic life support and use of automated external defibrillators. Resuscitation. 2010 Oct; 81(10):1277-92.
• Berg RA, Hemphll R, Abella BS, Aufderheide TP, Cave DM, Hazinski MF, Lerner EB, Rea TD, Sayre MR, Swor RA. Part 5: Adult Basic Life Support: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2010 Nov; 122 (Suppl): S685-S705.
• Toni J, Paul B. A survey of basic life support training in various undergraduate health care professions. Resuscitation. 2000 Dec; 47(3):321-3.
• Murola-Niemi L, Makinen M, Castren M. Medical and nursing students‘ attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation and current practice guidelines. Resuscitation. 2007 Feb; 72(2):257-63.
• Chandrasekaran S, Kumar S, Bhat SA, Kumar S, Shabbir PM, Chandrasekaran VP. Awareness of basic life support among medical, dental and nursing students and doctors. Indian J Anaesth. 2010 Mar; 54(2):121-6.
• Kaye W, Wynne G, Marteau T, Dubin HG, RalliS SF, Simons RS, Evans TR. An advanced resuscitation training course for preregistration house officers. J R Coll Physicians Lond. 1990 Jan; 24(1): 51-4.
• Govender K, Rangiah C, Ross A, Campbell L. Retention of knowledge of and skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation among healthcare providers after training. SA Fam Pract. 2010 Sep; 52(5):459-62.
• Chew KS, Hashairi FM, Zarina ZI, Farid AWS, Yazid MNA, Hisamudddin NARN. A survey on the knowledge, attitude and confidence level of adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation among junior doctors in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malysia. Med J Malaysia. 2011 Mar; 66 (1): 56-9.
• Roshana S, Batajoo KH, Sharma MW. Basic life support: Knowledge and attitude of medical/ paramedical professionals. World J Emerg Med. 2012 Jun; 3(2): 141-5.
• Lesnik D, Lesnik B, Golub J, Krizmaric M, Mally S, Grmec S. Impact of additional module training on the level of basic life support knowledge of first year students at the University of Maribor. Int J Emerg Med. 2011 Apr 19; 4:16.
• Christopher MS, Gavin DP, Ian B, Julian FB. Undergraduate training in the care of the acutely ill patient: a literature review. Intensive Care Med. 2007 May; 33(5):901-7.
• Woollard M, Whitfield R, Newcombe RG, Colquhoun M, Vetter N, Chamberlain D: Optimal refresher training intervals for AED and CPR skills: a randomised controlled trial. Resuscitation. 2006 Nov; 71(2):237-47.
• Chamberlain D, Smith A, Woollard M, Colquhoun M, Handley AJ, Leaves S, Kern KB: Trials of teaching methods in basic life support (3): comparison of simulated CPR performance after first training and at 6 months, with a note on the value of re-training. Resuscitation 2002 May; 53(2):179-87.
• Soar J, Mancini ME, Bhanji F, Billi JE, Dennett J, Finn J, Ma MHM, Perkins GD, Rodgers DL, Hazinski MF, Jacobs I, Morley PT, on behalf of the Education, Implementation, and Teams Chapter Collaborators. Part 12: Education, implementation, and teams: 2010 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations. Resuscitation. 2010 Oct; 81(1): e288–e332.