St.

Paul University Philippines

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
ADULT HEALTH

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE: INNOVATIONS / DISCOVERIES IN THE

MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS

KATHERINE B. ARELLANO, MAN

Faculty, Graduate School

Leonardo Jr Magtaan Uy, RN

MSN Student
Impact of Basic Life-Support Training on the Attitudes of Health-Care Workers toward
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Defibrillation

Published in 2017, this study aimed primarily to determine the effect of basic-life support
training on the attitudes of health-care providers in initiating CPR and AED use. Furthermore, it
also aimed to investigate the factors that affected these attitudes.

This study was anchored in the principle that the attitude and knowledge of health-care workers
are influenced by training. In fact, the American Heart Association and the International Liaison
Committee even includes BLS in their guidelines. In Saudi Arabia, it is also a requirement in
National Guard Health Affairs institutions.

Furthermore, numerous studies have cited how basic life-support training influences both attitude
and aptitude of health-care workers especially in administering CPR. Regardless, studies of this
nature have yet to be carried out in Saudi Arabia, hence this study.

The quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. A three-month study period was
conducted wherein both respondent groups (an experimental group which took BLS courses and
a non-experimental group) were given self-reported questionnaires.

The BLS courses provided for the experimental group is a four to five hour-duration of training
on scene safety, patient assessment, chest compression, airway and breathing and the use of AED
in resuscitation of unresponsive adults, children and infants. Said topics are discussed,
demonstrated and practiced. Assessment includes testing the psychomotor and cognitive skills of
participants. Moreover, a 25-item examination in multiple-choice format is also administered.

As for the questionnaire, it encompassed an assessment of educational status, knowledge,

attitudes and other factors that affect the utilization of CPR and AED. There were three scales in
the questionnaire: the first pertained to the educational status and certification in BLS, advanced
cardiovascular life support and pediatric advanced life support, their use and availability; the
second pertained to the attitudes and use of CPR and AED; and the third scale pertained to
factors that may influence the use of CPR and AED.
Descriptive and analytic statistics were both used for data analysis. The chi-square test and t-test
were used. In addition, Pearson’s correlation was applied to test for significant correlation
between concern and attitudes score.

Results indicated that continuous training and educational programs positively affects CPR
performance and AED usage. The more training experience health-care provides have, the better
their attitudes and less concern also for CPR and AED compared to their counterparts with
limited experiences.

The results therefore imply that aside from knowledge and skills, attitude is also very important
in initial life-support care especially in the willingness to perform CPR. In the negative side
however, those with improved attitude on BLS also showed greater level of concern for
performing CPR. Although contradictory to the first finding, this may be explained by the fact
that the said health-care providers are more aware of disease transmission through resuscitation
compared to their counterparts with lesser experience.

With this, it is therefore concluded that while BLS training is indeed beneficial, other aspects of
training should also be targeted so as to ensure that the level of concerns associated with
performing CPR and defibrillation be controlled accordingly.

As accorded by the US Preventive Services Task Force, early and immediate intervention as well
as primary care is particularly important hence health-care providers are expected to possess the
knowledge, skills and correct attitude in dealing with situations that may prompt them to apply
CPR and defibrillation.

Initial assessment of patient and risk factors involved was also specified as crucial. In
consideration to this, it can therefore be said that this study is particularly beneficial in spreading
awareness with regard to the importance of continuous BLS training for health-care workers.

In the discussion of this study, it was mentioned how repeated trainings help health-care workers
retain information about the conduct of CPR and the use of AED. On the other hand, lack of
training resulted to negative effect on health-care workers’ attitudes towards administering CPR.
In regard to this, the study and the intervention it conducted among health-care workers is
beneficial as evidence for developing and improving the skills and attitudes of health-care
personnel when it comes to the management and care for patients with cardiovascular diseases,
regardless of their age group. Therefore, health care organizations and providers are
recommended to be involved in the undertaking and completion of courses in CPR as it has been
seen to be instrumental in improving the skills and confidence of health-care workers in
emergency settings.