A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating the Knowledge and Attitude of Health Professions Students in Saudi Arabia: Are They Ready for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation?

Heartbeat of Care: Exploring Radiographers' Insights Into CPR Knowledge and Attitudes in Jordan

Objective

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of Jordanian radiographers toward Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), in addition to exploring factors associated with their knowledge and attitude.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was used to collect data from 359 radiographers currently working at governmental, university, military, and private hospitals across the country. Data were collected using an online Google form questionnaire between October 5, 2023 and December 27, 2023. The questionnaire included questions about demographic information, knowledge of CPR, and attitude toward performing CPR. The data were analyzed using SPSS IBM software v. 28, and P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 359 radiographers with a mean age of 31.71±8.22 years participated in the study. More than half of the sample were male (198, 55.2%) compared to 161 (44.8%) females. The mean scores for knowledge of CPR and attitude toward CPR were 5.74 ± 2.31 out of 10 and 3.94 ± 0.46 out of 5, respectively. Radiographers who received CPR training demonstrated significantly higher mean knowledge scores compared to those who did not receive CPR training (M=6.51±2.14, vs M=4.73±2.14, P<0.001). A correlation was observed between the age and knowledge of CPR (r=0.157, P=0.003), work experience and knowledge of CPR (r=0.177, P<0.001), and knowledge and attitude toward CPR (r=0.326, P<0.001), whereas no statistically significant differences were observed between male and female radiographers' knowledge (P≥0.05) and attitude (P≥0.05) toward CPR.

Conclusion

Radiographers had poor knowledge of CPR. However, there was a positive attitude toward CPR. Previous CPR training and educational level were significantly associated with higher knowledge and positive attitudes toward CPR, whereas radiographers' age and work experience were significantly associated with higher knowledge. Therefore, continuous CPR training is recommended to increase radiographers' knowledge of CPR.

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.