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Basic life support knowledge in Germany and the influences of demographic factors.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In the developed world, cardiovascular diseases still contribute to mortality and morbidity, leading to significantly increased deaths in recent years. Thus, it is necessary for a layperson to provide the best possible basic life support (BLS) until professional help is available. Since information on current BLS knowledge in Germany is not available, but necessary to be able to make targeted improvements in BLS education, we conducted this study. METHODS:A cohort survey using convenience sampling (non-probability) method was conducted with questions found in emergency medicine education. People coming to the emergency room of two big university hospitals located in the South (Munich) and western part (Cologne) of Germany were asked to participate in the survey between 2016 and 2017. Primary outcome measures were the proportion of correct answers for each emergency scenario in relationship to age, region, profession and first-aid training. RESULTS:Altogether 1003 people (504 from Cologne; 499 from Munich) took part in the questionnaire. 54.7% were female and 45.3% were male aging from 19 to 52 with a mean of 37.2 years. Although over 90% had taken part in first aid training, many people were lacking first aid knowledge, with less than 10% choosing the correct frequency for chest compression. Hereby demographic factors had a significant influence (p<0.05) in the given answers (Friedmann-and-Wilcoxon Test). CONCLUSION:Overall, results of our survey indicate a clear lack of BLS knowledge. With this information, targeted measures for improving BLS knowledge should be conducted. Additionally, further studies on the feasibility and efficiency of teaching methods are needed.

SUBMITTER: Schiefer JL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7446818 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Basic life support knowledge in Germany and the influences of demographic factors.

Schiefer Jennifer Lynn JL Schuller Hannelore H Fuchs Paul Christian PC Bagheri Mahsa M Grigutsch Daniel D Klein Matthias M Schulz Alexandra A

PloS one 20200820 8

<h4>Background</h4>In the developed world, cardiovascular diseases still contribute to mortality and morbidity, leading to significantly increased deaths in recent years. Thus, it is necessary for a layperson to provide the best possible basic life support (BLS) until professional help is available. Since information on current BLS knowledge in Germany is not available, but necessary to be able to make targeted improvements in BLS education, we conducted this study.<h4>Methods</h4>A cohort surve ...[more]

PMID: 32817673

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Project description:Retention of resuscitation skills is usually assessed at a predefined moment, which enables participants to prepare themselves, possibly introducing bias. In this multicenter study, we evaluated the retention of knowledge and skills in pediatric basic life support (PBLS) amongst 58 pediatricians and pediatric residents with an unannounced examination. Practical PBLS skills were assessed with a validated scoring instrument, theoretical knowledge with a 10-item multiple-choice test (MCQ). Participants self-assessed their PBLS capabilities using five-point Likert scales. Background data were collected with a questionnaire. Of our participants, 21% passed the practical PBLS exam: 29% failed on compressions/ventilations, 31% on other parts of the algorithm, 19% on both. Sixty-nine percent passed the theoretical test. Participants who more recently completed a PBLS course performed significantly better on the MCQ (p = 0.03). This association was less clear-cut for performance on the practical exam (p = 0.11). Older, attending pediatricians with more years of experience in pediatrics performed less well than their younger colleagues (p < 0.05). Fifty-one percent of the participants considered themselves competent in PBLS. No correlation was found between self-assessed PBLS capabilities and actual performance on the practical exam (p = 0.25).ConclusionRetention of PBLS skills appears to be poor amongst pediatricians and residents, whereas PBLS knowledge is retained somewhat better. What is Known: • Pediatricians and pediatric residents are not always competent in pediatric basic life support (PBLS) in daily practice. Poor retention of skills supposedly accounts for this incompetence. Without regular exposure, resuscitation skills usually deteriorate within 3 to 6 months after training. • Examination of resuscitation skills usually takes place after training. Also, in most studies evaluating retention of skills, participants are tested at a predefined moment. Inasmuch as participants are able to prepare themselves, these assessments do not reflect the ad hoc resuscitation capabilities of pediatricians and residents. What is New: • In this study, pediatricians and pediatric residents had to complete an unannounced PBLS exam at variable time intervals from last certification. Retention of PBLS skills was rather poor (pass rate 21%). • The PBLS skills of older, attending pediatricians with many working years in pediatrics appeared to be inferior to those of their younger colleagues.

Project description:BACKGROUND:The 'chain of survival'-including early call for help, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation-represents the most beneficial approach for favourable patient outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite increasing numbers of publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AED) and interventions to increase public awareness for basic life support (BLS), the number of their use in real-life emergency situations remains low. METHODS:In this prospective population-based cross-sectional study, a total of 501 registered inhabitants of Vienna (Austria) were randomly approached via telephone calls between 08/2014 and 09/2014 and invited to answer a standardized questionnaire in order to identify public knowledge and awareness of BLS and AED-use. RESULTS:We found that more than 52 percent of participants would presume OHCA correctly and would properly initiate BLS attempts. Of alarming importance, only 33 percent reported that they would be willing to perform CPR and 50 percent would use an AED device. There was a significantly lower willingness to initiate BLS attempts (male: 40% vs. female: 25%; OR: 2.03 [95%CI: 1.39-2.98]; p<0.001) and to use an AED device (male: 58% vs. female: 44%; OR: 1.76 [95%CI: 1.26-2.53]; p = 0.002) in questioned female individuals compared to their male counterparts. Interestingly, we observed a strongly decreasing level of knowledge and willingness for BLS attempts (-14%; OR: 0.72 [95%CI: 0.57-0.92]; p = 0.027) and AED-use (-19%; OR: 0.68 [95%CI: 0.54-0.85]; p = 0.001) with increasing age. CONCLUSION:We found an overall poor knowledge and awareness concerning BLS and the use of AEDs among the Viennese population. Both female and elderly participants reported the lowest willingness to perform BLS and use an AED in case of OHCA. Specially tailored programs to increase awareness and willingness among both the female and elderly community need to be considered for future educational interventions.

Project description:BackgroundEarly cardiopulmonary resuscitation and prompt defibrillation markedly increase the survival rate in the event of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). As future health care professionals, medical students should be trained to efficiently manage an unexpectedly encountered OHCA.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess basic life support (BLS) knowledge in junior medical students at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine (UGFM) and to compare it with that of the general population.MethodsJunior UGFM students and lay people who had registered for BLS classes given by a Red Cross-affiliated center were sent invitation links to complete a web-based questionnaire. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in a 10-question score regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge. Secondary outcomes were the differences in the rate of correct answers for each individual question, the level of self-assessed confidence in the ability to perform resuscitation, and a 6-question score, "essential BLS knowledge," which only contains key elements of the chain of survival. Continuous variables were first analyzed using the Student t test, then by multivariable linear regression. Fisher exact test was used for between-groups comparison of binary variables.ResultsThe mean score was higher in medical students than in lay people for both the 10-question score (mean 5.8, SD 1.7 vs mean 4.2, SD 1.7; P<.001) and 6-question score (mean 3.0, SD 1.1 vs mean 2.0, SD 1.0; P<.001). Participants who were younger or already trained scored consistently better. Although the phone number of the emergency medical dispatch center was well known in both groups (medical students, 75/80, 94% vs lay people, 51/62, 82%; P=.06), most participants were unable to identify the criteria used to recognize OHCA, and almost none were able to correctly reorganize the BLS sequence. Medical students felt more confident than lay people in their ability to perform resuscitation (mean 4.7, SD 2.2 vs mean 3.1, SD 2.1; P<.001). Female gender and older age were associated with lower confidence, while participants who had already attended a BLS course prior to taking the questionnaire felt more confident.ConclusionsAlthough junior medical students were more knowledgeable than lay people regarding BLS procedures, the proportion of correct answers was low in both groups, and changes in BLS education policy should be considered.

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Basic life support knowledge in Germany and the influences of demographic factors.

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Basic life support knowledge in Germany and the influences of demographic factors.

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