Knowledge and attitudes toward basic life support: survey among school teachers

Year 2022, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 984 - 988, 20.07.2022

Cem Gun , Hasan Aldinc

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1113486

Abstract

Aim: It is known that in cases of cardiac arrest, the chance of survival rates increases by 2-3 times with the bystander basic life support (BLS). Considering that children who spend a significant part of the day apart from their families at school have their teachers with them, it is understood how important the BLS knowledge and skills of teachers are. In our study, we analyzed the knowledge of primary, secondary and high school teachers about BLS and their thoughts about this training.
Material and Method: The study was conducted by face-to-face interview with 200 primary/secondary school and high school teachers working in Istanbul in 2019. The teachers participating in the study were evaluated with questionnaires related to their demographic characteristics, their level of knowledge about BLS and their thoughts about BLS training. Correct answers and “yes” answers were calculated with 1 point, incorrect answers and “no” answers were calculated with 0 points.
Results: In the BLS information levels survey of female participants, it was found that they scored statistically lower for questions “Do you know emergency medical service number?” and “Emergency medical service call-up in critical condition” (p˂0.05). Again, female participants had a lower score in the answers to all questions in the BLS application/education request questionnaire according to their gender (p˂0.05). Participants who had previously received BLS training were found to score higher on certain questions in BLS knowledge levels and BLS application/training request questionnaires.
Conclusion: In the study, it was found that primary/secondary and high school teachers lack the available BLS information. It was determined that people who have been trained in this subject are more willing to BLS training and applications than people who have not been trained in BLS.

Keywords

cardiopulmonary resuscitation, education, cardiac arrest, school teachers

References

• Mpotos N, Vekeman E, Monsieurs K, Derese A, Valcke M. Knowledge and willingness to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a survey amongst 4273 teachers. Resuscitation. 2013; 84: 496-500.
• Brown LE, Lynes C, Carroll T, Halperin H. CPR Instruction in U.S. high schools: What is the state in the nation? J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017; 70: 2688-95.
• Dursun A, Özsoylu S, Emeklioğlu B, Akyıldız BN. Evaluating the basic life support knowledge among schoolteachers: A cross-sectional survey in Kayseri, Turkey. Turk J Pediatr. 2018; 60: 702-8.
• Al Enizi BA, Saquib N, Zaghloul MS, Alaboud MS, Shahid MS, Saquib J. Knowledge and attitudes about basic life support among secondary school teachers in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2016;10: 415-22.
• Paglino M, Contri E, Baggiani M, et al. A video-based training to effectively teach CPR with long-term retention: the ScuolaSalvaVita.it ("SchoolSavesLives.it") project. Intern Emerg Med. 2019;14: 275-9.
• Alhejaili AS, Alghamdi RA, Al-Dubai SAR. Knowledge and attitude of basic life support skills among female school teacher in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020; 9: 2281-5.
• Riegel B, Mosesso VN, Birnbaum A, et al. Stress reactions and perceived difficulties of lay responders to a medical emergency. Resuscitation. 2006; 70: 98-106.
• Ojifinni K, Motara F, Laher AE. Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding basic life support among teachers in training. Cureus. 2019;11: e6302.
• Hawkes CA, Brown TP, Booth S, et al. Attitudes to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator use: A survey of UK adults in 2017. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019; 8: e008267.
• Roy Chowdhury S, Anantharaman V. Public attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and performance in Singapore. Int J Emerg Med. 202; 14: 54.
• Andréll C, Christensson C, Rehn L, Friberg H, Dankiewicz J. Knowledge and attitudes to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)- a cross-sectional population survey in Sweden. Resusc Plus. 2021; 5: 100071.
• Pei-Chuan Huang E, Chiang WC, Hsieh MJ, et al. Public knowledge, attitudes and willingness regarding bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A nationwide survey in Taiwan. J Formos Med Assoc. 2019; 118: 572-81.
• Dobbie F, MacKintosh AM, Clegg G, Stirzaker R, Bauld L. Attitudes towards bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Results from a cross-sectional general population survey. PLoS One. 2018; 13: e0193391.
• Suwanpairoj C, Wongsombut T, Maisawat K, et al. Outcome of basic life support training among primary school students in Southeast Asia. Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2020; 7: 245-9.
• Beck S, Meier-Klages V, Michaelis M, et al. Teaching school children basic life support improves teaching and basic life support skills of medical students: A randomised, controlled trial. Resuscitation. 2016; 108: 1-7.
• Kesici S, Bayrakci Z, Birbilen AZ, et al. Peer education model for basic life support training among high school children: A randomized trial. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2021; 36: 553-60.
• García Del Águila JJ, López Rebollo E, Escamilla Pérez R, et al. Teachers’ training of schoolchildren in basic life support. Emergencias. 2019; 31: 185-8.