Is current training in basic and advanced cardiac life support (BLS & ACLS) effective? A study of BLS &ACLS knowledge amongst healthcare professionals of North-Kerala / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

ABSTRACT

@#BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals are expected to have knowledge of current basic and advanced cardiac life support (BLS/ACLS) guidelines to revive unresponsive patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the current practices and knowledge of BLS/ACLS principles among healthcare professionals of North-Kerala using pretested self-administered structured questionnaire. Answers were validated in accordance with American Heart Association's BLS/ACLS teaching manual and the results were analysed. RESULTS: Among 461 healthcare professionals, 141 (30.6％) were practicing physicians, 268 (58.1％) were nurses and 52 (11.3％) supporting staff. The maximum achievable score was 20 (BLS 15/ ACLS 5). The mean score amongst all healthcare professionals was 8.9±4.7. The mean score among physicians, nurses and support staff were 8.6±3.4, 9±3.6 and 9±3.3 respectively. The majority of healthcare professionals scored ≤50％ (237, 51.4％); 204 (44.3％) scored 51％–80％ and 20 (4.34％) scored >80％. Mean scores decreased with age, male sex and across occupation. Nurses who underwent BLS/ACLS training previously had significantly higher mean scores (10.2±3.4) than untrained (8.2±3.6, P=0.001). Physicians with <5 years experience (P=0.002) and nurses in the private sector (P=0.003) had significantly higher scores. One hundred and sixty three (35.3％) healthcare professionals knew the correct airway opening manoeuvres like head tilt, chin lift and jaw thrust. Only 54 (11.7％) respondents were aware that atropine is not used in ACLS for cardiac arrest resuscitation and 79 (17.1％) correctly opted ventricular fibril ation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia as shockable rhythms. The majority of healthcare professionals (356, 77.2％) suggested that BLS/ACLS be included in academic curriculum. CONCLUSION: Inadequate knowledge of BLS/ACLS principles amongst healthcare professionals, especially physicians, illuminate lacunae in existing training systems and merit urgent redressal.