Out-of-hospital adult cardiac arrests in a university hospital in central Saudi Arabia

Readiness of University Students in Riyadh to Participate in Basic Life Support Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the greatest causes of death in the world. When basic life support (BLS) techniques are performed rapidly, the odds of survival increase. The aim of this research is to assess the university students' preparation and knowledge level regarding their interest in participating in BLS. Methods A cross-sectional study using an online self-administered questionnaire was conducted between January 20 and March 20, 2022. The questionnaire addressed awareness about BLS, willingness to participate in such courses, perceived barriers and incentives, and course uptake, in addition to the sociodemographic profile of participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors significantly associated with the willingness to participate in BLS courses and the associations are reported as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 1,546 students completed the questionnaire; almost half of them (n=761, 49.2%) were aged 17 to 21 and the majority were females (n=1,132, 73.2%). Only one-third of the population had heard about BLS (n=519, 33.6%), 27.1% (n=419) recognized where to register for BLS training, and 20.3% (n=314) had taken a BLS course. Most participants (n=1,081, 69.9%) demonstrated a low level of awareness. Conversely, a substantial portion (n=1,204, 77.9%) expressed a personal interest in undertaking the course. It was observed that participants who are affiliated with healthcare specialties (AOR = 5.96, 95% CI = 4.66-7.63, p<0.05) exhibited greater knowledge about BLS, while females (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.52-4.08, p<0.05) and those in healthcare specialties (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.29-3.82, p<0.05) displayed a notably higher inclination to enroll in BLS courses compared to their counterparts. Conclusion Despite the limited awareness of BLS among university students, there is a strong willingness to engage in BLS courses. It is crucial to motivate students to partake in these courses and emphasize the availability of accredited centers for their education institutes.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness Among People With and Without Heart Disease Relatives in Saudi Arabia Regarding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure that can be performed in many situations where a person's breathing or heartbeat has stopped, such as during a heart attack, suffocation, near drowning, or electrical injuries. Despite its importance, to our knowledge, no research has been conducted yet in our community on the differences in CPR knowledge, attitudes, and willingness between those with and without heart disease relatives. Objective This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and willingness of people with and without heart disease relatives to perform CPR in a case of cardiac arrest. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between July 2023 and October 2023 among the Saudi Arabia population using a self-administered online questionnaire focusing on the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and the level of knowledge, attitude toward CPR, and the willingness to perform CPR in a case of cardiac arrest. Results This study included 799 participants, with 331 males (41.4%) and 468 females (58.6%). Age distribution was mainly in the range of 18-25 years (241 participants, 30.2%). Geographically, the highest proportion was from the southern region (214 participants, 26.8%). The majority had a university degree (533 participants, 66.7%). Employment status varied, with 401 participants (50.2%) working outside the medical field. Monthly income showed that 297 (37.2%) had an income ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 SAR. The average daily sleep duration varied, with the majority (64.7%) reporting six to nine hours of sleep. Also, 44.2% of participants reported exercising. Regarding smoking status, 80.9% reported not smoking. A family history of heart disease was reported by 46.4% of participants, whereas 16.3% reported a personal diagnosis of heart disease. Regarding knowledge, 40.8% correctly identified when CPR should be performed. Only 40.4% correctly identified the first step in a CPR situation, and only 22.9% identified the correct sequence of steps for performing CPR. Additionally, only 66.5% correctly identified the emergency hotline number "Red Crescent." Furthermore, only 8.9% knew the correct compression/ventilation ratio for adults during CPR. As for the attitude, a significant percentage (65.0%) had not taken a CPR course. However, the majority (84.6%) expressed a strong desire to learn CPR. Interestingly, the participants showed a positive attitude toward CPR education. Among the participants, 53.9% responded that they performed CPR when encountering a situation that required it, while 46.1% did not. Regarding the participants' willingness to perform CPR on different individuals, the majority (74.1%) expressed their readiness to perform CPR whenever needed. Conclusion The findings demonstrated knowledge gaps, with misconceptions about CPR. However, participants generally expressed a positive attitude toward CPR education and a willingness to learn. Factors such as age showed a weak association with knowledge level, while gender, region, education, employment, and family history of heart disease did not significantly impact knowledge. The study highlighted the need for improved CPR education and awareness. Hence, we recommend CPR courses to be implemented as a graduation prerequisite. In addition to that, linking some government services to a first aid course would positively impact the general population's practices in CPR and other emergencies.

Characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Little work has been done on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Saudi Arabia. Our goal is to report the characteristics of OHCA patients and predictors of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA), a governmental emergency medical service (EMS). A standardized data collection form based on the "Utstein-style" guidelines was developed. Data were retrieved from the electronic patient care reports that SRCA providers fill out for every case. OHCA cases that were attended by SRCA in Riyadh province between June 1st, 2020 and May 31st, 2021 were included. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess independent predictors of bystander CPR.

Results

A total of 1,023 OHCA cases were included. The mean age was 57.2 (±22.6). 95.7% (979/1,023) of cases were adults and 65.2% (667/1,023) were males. Home was the most common location of OHCA [784/1,011 (77.5%)]. The initial recorded rhythm was shockable in 131/742 (17.7%). The EMS mean response time was 15.9 min (±11.1). Bystander CPR was performed in 130/1,023 (12.7%) and was more commonly performed in children as compared to adults [12/44 (27.3%) vs. 118/979 (12.1%), p = 0.003]. Independent predictors of bystander CPR were being a child (OR = 3.26, 95% CI [1.21-8.82], p = 0.02) and having OHCA in a healthcare institution (OR = 6.35, 95% CI [2.15-18.72], p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study reported the characteristics of OHCA cases in Saudi Arabia using EMS data. We observed young age at presentation, low rates of bystander CPR, and long response time. These characteristics are distinctly different from other countries and call for urgent attention to OHCA care in Saudi Arabia. Lastly, being a child and having OHCA in a healthcare institution were found to be independent predictors of bystander CPR.

Globally, GDP Per Capita Correlates Strongly with Rates of Bystander CPR

Introduction:

Bystander CPR is vital in improving outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. There has been ample literature describing disparities in bystander CPR within specific countries, such as the United States, Australia, and the Netherlands. However, there has not been significant literature describing such disparities between countries.

Methods:

We examined various studies published between 2000 and 2021 that reported rates of bystander CPR in various countries. These bystander CPR rates were correlated with the GDP per capita of that country during the time the study was conducted. The correlation between GDP per capita and rates of bystander CPR was assessed.

Results:

A total of 29 studies in 35 communities across 25 countries were examined. Reported rates of bystander CPR ranged from 1.3% to 72%. From this, a strong and significant correlation between GDP per capita and rates of bystander CPR was apparent; 0.772 (p < .01), r² = 0.596.

Conclusions:

GDP per capita can be thought of as a composite endpoint that takes into account various aspects of a country’s social and economic well-being. Socioeconomically-advantaged communities likely have a better ability to provide CPR education to community members, and our findings mirror localized analyses comparing socioeconomic status and rates of bystander CPR. Future studies should continue to elucidate transnational disparities in cardiac arrest, and efforts should be directed at providing CPR education to communities with low rates of bystander CPR; low-and-middle-income countries may represent attractive targets for such interventions. However, it may be possible that rates of bystander CPR may not improve unless significant upstream improvements to socioeconomic factors take place.

Knowledge and attitude of young population toward CPR training, results from largest training session in an official attempt to enter Guinness Book of Records: A cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

Objective:

It has been proved that bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saves lives and it is important to rise the willingness of the general population to help cardiac arrest victims. The primary objective of the present study is to assess the levels of the knowledge and attitude toward CPR among the young population who underwent the largest CPR training session in an official attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records.

Methods:

Through a cross-sectional design, the study had 2,528 subjects, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria during the largest CPR training session at the King Abdul-Aziz Sports City Stadium, Makkah city, Saudi Arabia.

Results:

Descriptive statistics showed that two-thirds (72%) of the subjects were in the age category of less than 20 years. At least 50% of the subjects had a Bachelor’s degree. Overall, the findings of this study suggested a good level of knowledge and attitude against CPR and this is might be attributed to certain factors which are mainly the high level of education, age, and gender factors (P value < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Our findings support the need for proper and high-quality training for each member in the community about CPR as well as using social media and online training to highlight the importance of CPR among the young population.

Awareness and attitude about basic life support among medical school students in Jeddah University, 2019: A cross-sectional study

Objectives:

To measure the level of knowledge and awareness towards basic life support (BLS) among students in preclinical years at Jeddah University (JU), and to determine their willingness to participate in BLS training in the near future.

Subjects and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-, second-, and third-year medical students of JU. A 27-item questionnaire measured the level of awareness and knowledge about BLS, including: 1) basic Information (seven items); 2) rescue reflex (eight items); and 3) CPR technique and process (12 items). Demographic and academic data, experience and exposure to BLS, and attitude regarding BLS (six items) were analysed as factors of adequate knowledge.

Results:

One hundred and four male students participated and 65 (62.5%) of them were in the second academic year. The correct answers varied from 10.6% to 67.3%, with eight items having <30% correct answers; and seven items showed >50% correct answers. Mean (SD) and median (P75) overall knowledge scores were 37.86 (13.92) and 37.04 (44.44) out of 100, respectively. Twenty-four (23.11%) participants attended a training course in BLS and 13 (12.5%) have ever performed BLS, either voluntarily or not voluntarily, and 18 (17.3%) felt that their current knowledge was sufficient. Knowledge level showed no statistically significant association with any of the investigated factors.

Conclusion:

There is an urgent need to integrate BLS courses to medical students to enrich their knowledge and improve resuscitation skills and ensure implementation of correct resuscitation techniques.

Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Saudi Red Crescent Experience Throughout COVID-19 Era

PURPOSE

The quality of resuscitation for out hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) during the COVID-19 era could be affected. We aim to describe prehospital healthcare providers' resuscitative efforts for OHCA cases and their definitive outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study included all OHCA cases between April and June 2021 across all regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Demographic variables, response times, CPR providers, initial rhythm, use of AED/Defibrillator, medical interventions, ROSC data, and dispatch codes were extracted from a central electronic platform.

RESULTS

A total of 1307 OHCA cases were included in this study, males constituted 65% and 42% were ≥65 years. Although the median response time to initiate CPR was 13 min, 11% of OHCA cases had a response time between 0 and 6 min. About 75% of CPR was provided on scene by BLS units, 78% of OHCA cases had asystole as their initial rhythm, an AED/Defibrillator was used more than 90% of the time for pulseless VT/VF rhythm, and ROSC was achieved in 8% of OHCA patients.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining resuscitative efforts for OHCA continues in KSA. Closing knowledge gaps in the community and a better description of OHCA for the dispatcher could guide dispatch-assisted CPR and minimize OHCA response times.

Knowledge of non-healthcare individuals towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a cross-sectional study in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

Background

Most sudden cardiac arrests occur at home, with low rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation being performed. We aimed to assess knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among individuals in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, who are not involved in health care.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2020 in 4 different areas in Riyadh City: North, South, East, and West. The participants were surveyed using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 was used for inferential statistics and binary logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 856 participants completed the questionnaire, 51.8% were unaware of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Only 4.4% of the participants had attended a formal cardiopulmonary resuscitation training course, 5.1% were campaign attendees, and 38.7% acquired their experience through the media. Having a higher level of education was positively associated with having knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The main concern among attendees of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training courses and campaigns was legal issues, whereas inadequate knowledge was the major barrier for those who had learned about cardiopulmonary resuscitation through the media.

Conclusion

The level of knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among non-health care individuals in Riyadh City was found to be insufficient. Therefore, coordinated efforts among different authorities should be considered to implement a structured strategy aiming to increase awareness and knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among non-health care individuals.

Evaluation of Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Non-Medical Students at Two Academic Institutions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Cardiac arrests are a leading cause of mortality in Saudi Arabia. Prompt and quick intervention using early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a life-saving strategy. Sufficient knowledge and awareness regarding CPR are important in initial care, particularly during an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We aim to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward CPR among the students of King Abdulaziz University and Jeddah University.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study design with a sample of 1053 non-medical students, regardless of their academic year, was conducted from May to July 2019 at both universities. Data were analyzed through chi-square and analysis of variance where a P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Out of 1053 students, 28.7% received CPR training. Also, the majority of the subjects were female 71%. The science department provided the largest response. Results showed that chest pain was the most observed early sign of cardiac arrest among participants by a percentage of 84.6. Majority of the participants (90.9%) felt no hesitation in performing early CPR on a family member. Additionally, committing a mistake was the most feared factor that deterred students from performing CPR.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge and awareness of CPR among non-medical university students were poor, despite positive attitudes toward it. Integrating mandatory CPR courses in the orientation and in the first year of the undergraduate curriculum could increase awareness and improve the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Disparities between Rural and Urban Areas of the Central Region of Saudi Arabia in the Utilization and Time-Centeredness of Emergency Medical Services

The purpose of this study was to explore differences in characteristics of missions dispatched by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) between rural and urban areas of Riyadh province in Saudi Arabia (SA). It also aimed at identifying weaknesses related to utilization and Response Time (RT). The study retrospectively evaluated 146,639 completed missions in 2018 by measuring the utilization rate in rural and urban areas. The study shows there are six times more ambulance crews available for rural areas compared to urban. There were 22.1 missions per 1000 urban inhabitants and 11.2 missions per 1000 in rural areas. The median RT for high urgent trauma cases was 20.2 min in rural compared to 15.2 min in urban areas (p < 0.001). In urban areas, the median RT for high urgent medical cases was 16.1 min, while it was 15.2 min for high urgent trauma cases. Around 62.3% of emergency cases in urban and 56.5% in rural areas were responded to within 20.00 min. Women utilized EMS less frequently. The RT was increased in urban areas compared to previous studies. The RT in the central region of SA has been identified as equal, or less than 20.00 min in 62.4% of all emergency cases. To further improve adherence to the 20' target, reorganizing the lowest urgent cases in the rural areas seems necessary.

Epidemiology and Outcomes from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Kuwait

Background

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival remains low in most countries. Few studies examine OHCA outcomes out of the Middle East region. This is the first study to describe characteristics and outcomes of patients with OHCA treated by emergency medical services (EMS) in regions of Kuwait.

Objectives

To describe characteristics and outcomes of adult patients affected with OHCA in regions of Kuwait.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study on all adult OHCA patients transported by EMS to regional emergency departments over a 10- month period (21 February–31 December 2017). Data were collected from various sources: national emergency medical services archived data, emergency department, intensive care unit, and cardiac care unit of two hospitals.

Results

A total of 332 EMS-treated OHCA cases were reviewed, and 286 incidents with OHCA from cardiac aetiology were included in the study. Most were non-Kuwaiti (60.8%) males (67.1%) with mean age 61 (+−16) years. Most OHCA cases occurred at home (76%) but with low witness rate (11.5%). Bystander CPR rate was low (8.7%). ROSC was achieved in ten patients (3.5%), but only 1 (0.3%) patient survived to hospital discharge.

Conclusion

OHCA survival rates in this region of Kuwait are low. Targeted measures such as creating cardiac registry, dispatcher-assisted CPR with ongoing training and quality improvement, and community-based CPR education program are needed to improve the survival rates of OHCA victims.

Assessment on CPR Knowledge and AED Availability in Saudi Malls by Security Personnel: Public Safety Perspective

Security personnel are the first ones who attend the scene in the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) at malls. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not enough for those patients; they need an automated external defibrillator (AED) to bring the heart to function normally. This study aimed to assess the current status of CPR and AED knowledge and availability in Saudi malls by security personnel. Using a descriptive design, a study was conducted at seven malls located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Two hundred and fifty participants were surveyed using the American Heart Association (AHA) 2015 guidelines to assess CPR and AED knowledge and availability in Saudi malls. The sample mean age was 32.60 years (SD = 10.02), and 87% of participants were working as security personnel. The majority of the participants had not received training about CPR and AED (75.8% and 95.2%, respectively). Common misconceptions are fallen into all categories of CPR and AED knowledge. Correctly answered statements ranged from 7.2% in the compression rate to 24.2% in hand placement. The study results indicated a poor training knowledge of CPR and AED in public settings. Integrating high-quality CPR and AED knowledge within the school and college curricula is a vital need. However, in order to maximize the survival rate, it is important to set laws and legislation adopted by stakeholders and decision makers to advocate the people who try to help, mandate AED installation in crowded places, and mandate teaching hands-only CPR and AED together as a package.

What is known about the quality of out-of-hospital emergency medical services in the Arabian Gulf States? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have been developed in the Arabian Gulf States (AGS) in the last three decades. The EMS needs continuous quality assessment of their performance to improve and provide the best out-of-hospital care. This study aims to assess the quality of EMS in the AGS according to the six quality domains of the Institute of Medicine.

METHODS

We searched four databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL) for studies that reported on the quality of EMS in any of the AGS using clinical or non-clinical performance indicators. To quantify study quality and risk of bias, the adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used. We focused on structural and functional indicators, clinical and non-clinical.

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies were eligible for inclusion. One study contained result of safety, fifteen time-centeredness, twenty effectiveness, five patient-centeredness, and thirteen studies reported on equity of EMS. None of the studies reported on efficiency of EMS. A significant proportion of studies showed high scores on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Limited studies on EMS quality were available, not covering all relevant quality domains and not covering the whole AGS region. The equity domain showed the best outcome performance finding, whereas finding of the patient-centeredness domain showed room for improvement in the foreseeable future.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the need for more and better studies of sufficient quality about all domains of quality in EMS in all the AGS. EMS research in Kuwait and Bahrain is warranted, as currently studies of EMS quality are unavailable for these States. Moreover, efficiency researches exploring this discipline should be conducted specially no studies were found has been searching this domain.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019123896.

Dispatcher assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation implementation in Kuwait: A before and after study examining the impact on outcomes of out of hospital cardiac arrest victims

Dispatcher assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DACPR) by Emergency medical services has been shown to improve rates of early out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) recognition and early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for OHCA. This study measures the impact of introducing DACPR on OHCA recognition, CPR rates and on patient outcomes in a pilot region in Kuwait.EMS treated OHCA data over 10 months period (February 21-December 31, 2017) before and after the intervention was prospectively collected and analyzed.Comprehensive DACPR in the form of: a standardized dispatch protocol, 1-day training package and quality assurance and improvement measures were applied to Kuwait EMS central Dispatch unit only for pilot region. Primary outcomes: OHCA recognition rate, CPR instruction rate, and Bystander CPR rate. Secondary outcome: survival to hospital discharge.A total of 332 OHCA cases from the EMS archived data were extracted and after exclusion 176 total OHCA cases remain. After DACPR implementation OHCA recognition rate increased from 2% to 12.9% (P = .037), CPR instruction rate increased from 0% to 10.4% (P = .022); however, no significant change was noted for bystander CPR rates or prehospital return of spontaneous circulation. Also, survival to hospital discharge rate did not change significantly (0% before, and 0.8% after, P = .53)In summary, DACPR implementation had positive impacts on Kuwait EMS system operational outcomes; early OHCA recognition and CPR instruction rates in a pilot region of Kuwait. Expanding this initiative to other regions in Kuwait and coupling it with other OHCA system of care interventions are needed to improve OHCA survival rates.

Knowledge of Nonmedical Individuals about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Case of Cardiac Arrest: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction

In cardiac arrest victims, providing a high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a fundamental component of initial care, especially in the out-of-hospital settings. In this study, we sought to assess the knowledge of nonmedical people regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey containing 22 questions was administered to individuals aged ≥ 18 years, who were not health care providers. Sample included residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey included knowledge about cardiac arrest findings, previous experience with CPR, knowledge of basic life support (BLS), and concerns related to CPR.

Results

The fully completed survey forms of 600 respondents were analysed. Out of these, 28.7% stated that they had previously received training in CPR. Regarding manifestations of cardiac arrest, 40.7% suggested loss of consciousness, 36.8% suggested cessation of breathing, and 24.7% suggested cessation of circulation. Only 11.7% among respondents were found to be able to perform chest compressions. Also, only 9.2% could perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation, and 29.5% were able to perform both. While 55.5% knew the location for performing chest compressions, 44.7% knew the correct depth, and only 18.5% knew the correct compression–ventilation rate. Bystander CPR had been performed by only 10.7%.

Conclusion

In our sample, we found lack of knowledge regarding CPR. We advise for a coordinated national effort to improve the public awareness about CPR performance. This may include mass education, specialized training, and setting legislations.

Current Status of Knowledge about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation among the University Students in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia

Background

Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public health problem in the world. Immediate initiation of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly increased patient survival rate. Therefore, it is very important to train young people and increase public awareness of CPR for the long-term benefit of the community.

Objective

We aimed at estimating the level of knowledge and attitude towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among the university students in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

Methodology

A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted among the students of four northern region universities of Saudi Arabia (Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk) between March and November 2017. A self-administered questionnaire was prepared in both Arabic and English languages and distributed to all the participants. All the data were collected and analyzed by using SPSS version 21.

Results

A total of 947 students from four universities completed the questionnaire: Jouf (57%), Hail (15%), Northern Borders (13%), and Tabuk (15%). Although 72% of students have previous knowledge about CPR, 49% of them lack knowledge about a medical emergency. Moreover, 59% failed to answer regarding CPR where only 41% wrote the ABC steps in the correct sequence. However, 67% of the participants had very poor knowledge, 89% of participants desired to receive additional CPR training course, and 49% of the students thought that CPR training should be a mandatory graduation requirement for all universities. There were no significant differences between male and female students. Students from medicine-related colleges have significantly (p < 0.001) more knowledge and scored better compared with non-medicine-related colleges. Tabuk University scored better compared to the others, but the overall knowledge and attitude scored were low.

Conclusions

Overall knowledge about CPR among the university students was not satisfactory; however, attitude towards CRP training was very positive. Our results suggested that there is a need for improvement of CPR education among Saudi university students, which will help to reduce the cardiac arrest mortality rate among the community.

A profile of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Northern Emirates, United Arab Emirates

Objectives:

To report the characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients and their outcomes in the emirates of Sharjah, Ras-al-Khaimah, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ajman in the United Arab Emirates (collectively known as the Northern Emirates).

Methods:

This is a prospective descriptive cohort study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents transported by the national ambulance crews between February 2014 and March 2015 in the Northern Emirates.

Results:

A total of 384 patients were enrolled in this study. Male victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest represented 76% of the participants. The mean age of the study population was 50.9 years. An over-all prehospital return of spontaneous circulation rate of 3.1% was documented, as well as a 30% rate of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation being performed. Public access defibrillators were applied in 0.5% of cases. Data is presented according to Utstein reporting criteria.

Conclusion:

Baseline data for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was established for the first time in the Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. A low survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, low rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and low public access defibrillator use were discovered. Although low by comparison to established western systems results are similar to other systems in the region. Determining the baseline data presented in this study is essential in recommending and implementing strategies to reduce mortality from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.