Evaluation of Basic Life Support Knowledge and Skills of Healthcare and Non-healthcare Providers

ABSTRACT

Aim: Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival after a sudden cardiopulmonarycollapse. This study assessed the basic life support (BLS) awareness, knowledge, attitude, and performance of healthcareproviders (HCP) and non-HCP before and after CPR training.Materials and Methods: This study included 4625 participants. Participants completed a pre-test to assess their knowledgeand 3 h training course that provided a theoretical background on sudden cardiac death and a hands-on CPR tutorial. Theywere asked to perform BLS on a manikin to simulate an unconscious scenario before the training. Afterward, participantsencountered the same scenario and completed a questionnaire of their post-training knowledge.Results: A total of 4625 participants were included in this study. Of which 56.54% (n = 2615) were HCP and 43.45% (n = 2010)were non-HCP. There is a significant increase in knowledge of BLS among non-HCP which is clearly evident in pre-trainingand post-training evaluation (written and hands-on). Only 0.62% employees are able to perform BLS in the correct sequencebefore the training and 76.7% employees after the training. None of the students performed BLS in the correct sequence beforethe training and 60.85% students performed well after the training. Among HCP, only 12.08% were able to perform BLS in thecorrect sequence before the training and 94.8% after the training.Conclusion: Performing BLS and attending BLS training plays a key role in attaining BLS knowledge by both healthcare andnon-HCP.