Sunil R.1 , Praseetha V.K.2
BACKGROUND The knowledge and skills in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an essential part in the medical education. Resuscitation skills have undergone series of evolution into current protocol which involves Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). We wanted to assess the awareness of Basic Life Support among medical students, nursing students and house surgeons in a Government Medical College in Kerala. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted by assessing responses to 24 selected basic questions regarding BLS and ACLS among the students. After excluding the incomplete response forms the data from 500 responders was analysed. Results were analysed using an answer key prepared with the use of the Advanced Cardiac Life Support manual of AHA (2015). RESULTS Out of 500 responders, 250 were medical students, 100 were nursing students and 150 were House Surgeons. No one among them had complete knowledge of BLS & ACLS. Awareness of BLS & ACLS among students of medical, and nursing colleges and doctors is poor. Regarding knowledge of BLS (9 questions) the analysis of results showed that mean percentage of correct responses were 75.67 % of house surgeons, 51.78 % of nursing students and 20.98 % of medical students. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of BLS among students of medical, and nursing colleges and house surgeons is inadequate. Proper training programs must be initiated to rectify this.
