Attitude of medical and dental students toward basic life support education and training: A quantitative cohort study

Abstract Background: The annual incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) worldwide is approximately 55 per 100,000 inhabitants, with an average of 8% survival rate at hospital discharge. Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation have been identified as key factors associated with improved survival after OHCA. The rates of bystander CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) vary among countries. Various public health policies and strategic initiatives regarding bystander CPR and AED education and training have been implemented globally, influencing the number of OHCA survivors and their subsequent quality of life. Aims: Our study aimed to explore medical and dental students’ attitudes toward basic life support (BLS) CPR education and training. Setting and Design: This is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Materials and Methods: Final-year medical and dental students were surveyed after completing the BLS course using an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions about demographic data and students’ attitudes toward BLS education and training. Results: Medical and dental students demonstrated a positive attitude toward BLS education and training ( P < 0.001). Both medical and dental student revealed an overall self-reported low confidence level score of 12.9 ± 2.59 in initiating BLS skills in real OHCA situations. Conclusion: Our students exhibited a positive attitude toward BLS education and training. Our students exhibited a positive attitude towards BLS education and training despite poor willingness to initiate BLS on victims of OHCA if attended. We strongly recommend further demystification of potential harms alongside BLS performance in prospective standardized CPR education and training programs to enhance OHCA survivor rates and their subsequent quality of life.