Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University

Objectives: Awareness of basic life support (BLS) is paramount to ensure the provision of essential life-saving medical care in emergency situations. This study aimed to measure knowledge of BLS and attitudes towards BLS training among female health students at a women’s university in Saudi Arabia. ...

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Main Author: Maha A. Al-Mohaissen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sultan Qaboos University 2017-02-01
Series:Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1817
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author Maha A. Al-Mohaissen
author_facet Maha A. Al-Mohaissen
author_sort Maha A. Al-Mohaissen
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Awareness of basic life support (BLS) is paramount to ensure the provision of essential life-saving medical care in emergency situations. This study aimed to measure knowledge of BLS and attitudes towards BLS training among female health students at a women’s university in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study took place between January and April 2016 at five health colleges of the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All 2,955 students attending the health colleges were invited to participate in the study. Participants were subsequently asked to complete a validated Englishlanguage questionnaire which included 21 items assessing knowledge of BLS and six items gauging attitudes to BLS. Results: A total of 1,349 students completed the questionnaire (response rate: 45.7%). The mean overall knowledge score was very low (32.7 ± 13.9) and 87.9% of the participants had very poor knowledge scores. A total of 32.5% of the participants had never received any BLS training. Students who had previously received BLS training had significantly higher knowledge scores (P <0.001), although their knowledge scores remained poor. Overall, 77.0% indicated a desire to receive additional BLS training and 78.5% supported mandatory BLS training. Conclusion: Overall knowledge about BLS among the students was very poor; however, attitudes towards BLS training were positive. These findings call for an improvement in BLS education among Saudi female health students so as to ensure appropriate responses in cardiac arrest or other emergency situations.
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spelling doaj.art-6ba4ad89edbd4d7a8246e350b9294c852022-12-22T01:36:26ZengSultan Qaboos UniversitySultan Qaboos University Medical Journal2075-051X2075-05282017-02-01171596510.18295/squmj.2016.17.01.0111741Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s UniversityMaha A. Al-Mohaissen0Department of Clinical Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaObjectives: Awareness of basic life support (BLS) is paramount to ensure the provision of essential life-saving medical care in emergency situations. This study aimed to measure knowledge of BLS and attitudes towards BLS training among female health students at a women’s university in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study took place between January and April 2016 at five health colleges of the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All 2,955 students attending the health colleges were invited to participate in the study. Participants were subsequently asked to complete a validated Englishlanguage questionnaire which included 21 items assessing knowledge of BLS and six items gauging attitudes to BLS. Results: A total of 1,349 students completed the questionnaire (response rate: 45.7%). The mean overall knowledge score was very low (32.7 ± 13.9) and 87.9% of the participants had very poor knowledge scores. A total of 32.5% of the participants had never received any BLS training. Students who had previously received BLS training had significantly higher knowledge scores (P <0.001), although their knowledge scores remained poor. Overall, 77.0% indicated a desire to receive additional BLS training and 78.5% supported mandatory BLS training. Conclusion: Overall knowledge about BLS among the students was very poor; however, attitudes towards BLS training were positive. These findings call for an improvement in BLS education among Saudi female health students so as to ensure appropriate responses in cardiac arrest or other emergency situations.https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1817basic cardiac life supporthealth occupations studentsmedical educationknowledgeattitudessaudi arabia.
spellingShingle Maha A. Al-Mohaissen
Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
basic cardiac life support
health occupations students
medical education
knowledge
attitudes
saudi arabia.
title Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
title_full Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
title_fullStr Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
title_short Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University
title_sort knowledge and attitudes towards basic life support among health students at a saudi women s university
topic basic cardiac life support
health occupations students
medical education
knowledge
attitudes
saudi arabia.
url https://journals.squ.edu.om/index.php/squmj/article/view/1817
work_keys_str_mv AT mahaaalmohaissen knowledgeandattitudestowardsbasiclifesupportamonghealthstudentsatasaudiwomensuniversity