ABSTRACT
Objective:To understand the knowledge situation of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among general practitioners (GPs) and provide the suggestions on the prevention and treatment of SCD basis for GPs.Methods:A self-designed questionnaire on SCD-related knowledge was used for GPs in He′nan province, including GPs in the training program and working in rural areas.The questionnaire included three dimensions of SCD-related knowledge on prevention, early diagnosis and emergency treatment.There were 5 questions for each dimension, with a total score of 15 points for all 15 questions.Statistical analysis was performed using t test, analysis of variance and Chi-square test. Results:A total of 124 GPs were included in the cross-sectional survey, including 63 GP trainers and 61 rural GPs.The GPs had the low level of SCD-related knowledge of prevention, early diagnosis and emergency treatment, with an overall score of 8.03 (SD=2.58). The score of GP trainers was significantly higher than that of rural GPs in all three dimensions [(3.44±0.89)points vs.(2.19±1.06)points, (2.67±0.91)points vs.(1.43±0.80)points, (3.54±0.94)points vs.(2.84±1.30)points, t=7.13, 8.11, 3.45, all P<0.001]. Rural GPs had a significantly higher correct rate of " choice of early screening examinations" and " first-aid measures for cardiac arrest" than GP trainers (50.8% vs.9.8%, 88.9% vs.26.2%, χ 2=24.79, 49.02, all P<0.001). Conclusion:GPs have low levels of SCD-related knowledge.The training for the GPs should be targeted on the weak points of knowledge on the primary prevention and secondary prevention of SCD.