Differences in Basic Life Support Knowledge Between Junior Medical Students and Lay People: Web-Based Questionnaire Study

Article Article scientifique Article Differences in Basic Life Support Knowledge Between Junior Medical Students and Lay People: Web-Based Questionnaire Study eng 2021-02-23 2021-02-23 author Sturny Ludovic 0000-0001-5089-7563 898083 author Regard Simon 0000-0002-3979-7593 558033 author Larribau Robert Michel P. D. 0000-0002-5200-4199 91013 author Niquille Marc 0000-0002-2671-6889 527068 author Savoldelli Georges Louis 0000-0002-8968-6920 41344 author Sarasin François 0000-0002-1169-8526 65003 author Schiffer Eduardo 0000-0002-7415-4315 33705 author Suppan Laurent 0000-0001-6989-6421 505697 e25125 10.2196/25125 33620322 1438-8871 PMC7943337 http://www.jmir.org/2021/2/e25125/ Background: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and prompt defibrillation markedly increase the survival rate in the event of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). As future health care professionals, medical students should be trained to efficiently manage an unexpectedly encountered OHCA. Objective: Our aim was to assess basic life support (BLS) knowledge in junior medical students at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine (UGFM) and to compare it with that of the general population. Methods: Junior UGFM students and lay people who had registered for BLS classes given by a Red Cross–affiliated center were sent invitation links to complete a web-based questionnaire. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in a 10-question score regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge. Secondary outcomes were the differences in the rate of correct answers for each individual question, the level of self-assessed confidence in the ability to perform resuscitation, and a 6-question score, “essential BLS knowledge,” which only contains key elements of the chain of survival. Continuous variables were first analyzed using the Student t test, then by multivariable linear regression. Fisher exact test was used for between-groups comparison of binary variables. Results: The mean score was higher in medical students than in lay people for both the 10-question score (mean 5.8, SD 1.7 vs mean 4.2, SD 1.7; P<.001) and 6-question score (mean 3.0, SD 1.1 vs mean 2.0, SD 1.0; P<.001). Participants who were younger or already trained scored consistently better. Although the phone number of the emergency medical dispatch center was well known in both groups (medical students, 75/80, 94% vs lay people, 51/62, 82%; P=.06), most participants were unable to identify the criteria used to recognize OHCA, and almost none were able to correctly reorganize the BLS sequence. Medical students felt more confident than lay people in their ability to perform resuscitation (mean 4.7, SD 2.2 vs mean 3.1, SD 2.1; P<.001). Female gender and older age were associated with lower confidence, while participants who had already attended a BLS course prior to taking the questionnaire felt more confident. Conclusions: Although junior medical students were more knowledgeable than lay people regarding BLS procedures, the proportion of correct answers was low in both groups, and changes in BLS education policy should be considered. Basic life support Cardiopulmonary Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Life support Medical education Medical students Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Undergraduate medical education Dewey 610/370 Dewey 617 48 Unité de développement et de recherche en éducation médicale 204 63 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences 229 false 538 Groupe Savoldelli Georges (simulation) 878 17 Médecine d'urgence 24 Journal of medical internet research 23 2 64ea26be-4a9d-4ef2-b0f2-a8e4f9db4af2 Article (Published version) Public document(1).pdf 1155263 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 c92a3d16-74b4-49ce-be69-4b9f492b5a63 Appendix Public Article-scientifique-from-unpaywall.pdf 481480 application/pdf CC BY openAccess Faculté de médecine / Unité de développement et de recherche en éducation médicale Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences

Title	Published in	Access level	OA Policy	Year	Views	Downloads

Differences in Basic Life Support Knowledge Between Junior Medical Students and Lay People: Web-Based Questionnaire Study	Journal of medical internet research			2021	199	86

Archive ouverte UNIGE

Sturny, Ludovic