Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Regarding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Case of Cardiac Arrest among the Population in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: For cardiac arrest victims, providing high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a fundamental component of initial care, especially in out-of-hospital settings. We sought to assess the knowledge of nonmedically trained individuals about CPR in case of cardiac arrest in the population of Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey containing 22 questions was administered to individuals aged ≥ 18 years who were not health-care providers. The sample comprised residents of Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The survey included knowledge about the signs of cardiac arrest, previous experiences with CPR, knowledge of basic life support (BLS), and concerns related to CPR. Results: This study examined responses from 480 people to assess their knowledge of CPR. More than one-half were female, and only 33% were male. Only 36.04% reported having received CPR training. In the event of a family member’s cardiac arrest, more than 90% state that they would perform CPR. If a family member suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, more than 70% would call an ambulance immediately, whereas only 48% would call an ambulance if the same thing happened to a stranger. Fear of making a mistake was the most common reason for not performing CPR (70.63%). The media was the most common source of CPR training. Women were more aware of the warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest than men. Women were also more likely than men to perform CPR or call for assistance. Furthermore, women were significantly more likely than men to discontinue CPR on a sudden cardiac arrest patient for fear of stopping a working heart or being contaminated by blood or vomit. Few respondents were willing to undergo CPR training; students, homemakers, and retired people were more willing to be trained in CPR than others. Conclusion: In the Saudi Arabian province of Jazan, nonmedically trained people demonstrated a low level of CPR training and knowledge. We believe that making BLS courses available to the general public will increase CPR awareness and understanding among adults and increase survival rates in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.