Abstract
BackgroundCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases the probability of survival of a person with cardiac arrest. Repeating training helps staff retain knowledge in CPR and in use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Retention of knowledge and skills during and after training in CPR is difficult and requires systematic training with appropriate methodology. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of basic life-support (BLS) training on the attitudes of health-care providers toward initiating CPR and on use of AEDs, and to investigate the factors that influence these attitudes.MethodsA quasi-experimental study was conducted in two groups: health-care providers who had just attended a BLS–AED course (post-BLS group, n = 321), and those who had not (pre-BLS group, n = 421). All participants had previously received BLS training. Both groups were given a validated questionnaire to evaluate the status of life-support education and certification, attitudes toward use of CPR and AED and concerns regarding use of CPR and AED. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to identify significant predictors of the attitude and concern scores.ResultsOverall positive attitudes were seen in 53.4% of pre-BLS respondents and 64.8% of post-BLS respondents (χ2 = 9.66, p = 0.002). Positive attitude was significantly predicted by the recent completion of BLS training (β = 5.15, p < 0.001), the number of previous BLS training courses (β = 2.10, p = 0.008) and previous exposure to cardiac-arrest cases (β = 3.44, p = 0.018), as well as by low concern scores, (β = −0.09, p < 0.001). Physicians had significantly lower concern scores than nurses (β = −10.45, p = 0.001). Concern scores decreased as the duration of work experience increased (t = 2.19, p = 0.029).ConclusionsRepeated educational programs can improve attitudes toward CPR performance and the use of AEDs. Training that addressed the concerns of health-care workers could further improve these attitudes.
Highlights
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases the probability of survival of a person with cardiac arrest
The results showed that health-care professionals— nurses—had improvements in their attitudes to performing CPR and knowledge of CPR after training [7]
Our aim was to study the effect of CPR–automated external defibrillators (AEDs) training on the attitudes of health-care workers before and after attending a basic life-support (BLS)-provider course, with the following objectives: [1] to assess health-care providers’ attitudes toward CPR–AED training before taking the course, [2] to identify factors influencing attitudes toward CPR–AED use, [3] to determine the effect of attending the BLS course on attitudes toward CPR and defibrillation and [4] to evaluate the level of retention of these attitudes among providers who had previously received training
Summary
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases the probability of survival of a person with cardiac arrest. Repeating training helps staff retain knowledge in CPR and in use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of basic life-support (BLS) training on the attitudes of health-care providers toward initiating CPR and on use of AEDs, and to investigate the factors that influence these attitudes. The survival of patients with OHCA can be improved by reduction of response times, including early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation, and early advanced care [1]. CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are core training components. BLS training is a requirement at National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA) institutions, and enrollment in advanced resuscitation programs occurs, dependent on an individual’s scope of practice. The Postgraduate Training Center (PTC), an international training center at MNG-HA, had been awarded to reach the Gold Level for the first time with American Heart Association in 2014/2015, with 8183 participants in the Middle East and North Africa [5]
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