A University Hospital Healthcare Personnel's Knowledge Levels About Adult Basic Life Support: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was carried out to determine the knowledge level of adult basic life support (BLS) of nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMT) who are working in a university hospital and its affiliated dispensaries in North Cyprus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study included 137 nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians from 212 university and hospital dispensaries in North Cyprus, who agreed to participate. The data of the study were collected between 20 April-30 May 2017 by using personal information forms which consist of 9 questions about the socio-demographic characteristics and 14 questions about their knowledge of adult BLS to determine employees' features. The results were statistically evaluated and interpreted. RESULTS: It was found that 37.23% of the health personnel were between the ages of 25-27, 82.48% were women, 72.99% were bachelors, and 35.77% were employed in inpatient services. 83.94% of the participants received in-service BLS training, 67.88% of them done BLS implementation, and 51.09% found themselves adequate for the BLS implementation. In the information form, the time of initiation of BLS in cardiac arrest (88.32%) question highly answered correct. It was determined that the average score is 62.04 +/- 16.11 out of 100 were taken from the BLS information form by participants as well as, the lowest score was 7.14 and the highest score was 92.86. CONCLUSION: It is believed that: `adding BLS theoretical and applied courses to vocational training programs, and supporting the training with in-service and orientation programs in business life' will increase the BLS abilities of health personnel to the desired level.