A cross-sectional study on awareness and perception about basic life support/ cardio-pulmonary resuscitation among undergraduate medical students from coastal South India

Background: Basic Life Support (BLS)/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an important part of emergency medical care. This study is done among medical undergraduate students, to know their knowledge and perceptions about BLS, as they are going to face such situations in future, as doctors. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 377 medical undergraduate students. The questionnaire included the following parts: (1) Basic characteristics of the study participants, (2) Knowledge about BLS/CPR, (3) Perceptions about BLS/CPR. The components of knowledge and perception based questions were scored. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 12. Results were expressed as proportions in appropriate tables and graphs. Student’s Independent ‘t’ test was used to compare means between students who had undergone previous training if any and those who had no such training. Results: Out of 377 students, majority (84.6%) had heard of BLS/CPR. Some of them (30.6%) could give the correct order of performing CPR as per the AHA guidelines (Year 2010). Few (18.9%) had undergone prior training in BLS, whereas, only 17.7% had been in a situation that needed BLS/CPR. Nearly half (50.2%) were not confi dent of performing BLS/CPR. Comparison of the students revealed that students who had training had higher mean scores for ‘response to a situation needing BLS/CPR’ and ‘signs of successful resuscitation’, though there was little difference in their knowledge of ‘indications for BLS/CPR. Overall perception was not favourable and the students were not confident of performing BLS/CPR. Conclusions: The students need to be taught and trained in the CPR/BLS early in the curriculum to improve their knowledge. Repeated training would increase their confidence.