DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2022.v08i07.002

Pages: 437-447

Background: Knowledge of basic and advanced cardiac life support is of paramount significance amongst health care professionals to attain higher survival rate of patients suffering from sudden cardiac death. Objectives: To determine the awareness and knowledge for performing high quality CPR amongst junior resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 220 preformed questionnaires were distributed amongst the interns, postgraduate and non-postgraduate junior resident and senior resident doctors, with a response rate of 69% (n-152). Data on the responders awareness of cardipulmonary resuscitation (CPR), core knowledge of basic life supoort (BLS) and advanced cardiac life supoort (ACLS) were collected. Data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using SPSS version 23.0 and was expressed as mean ± standard deviation or in percentage. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant level. Results: Among the 152 responders, 31(20%) were interns, 74(49%) were postgraduate course junior residents (PG JR), 7(5%) were non- post-graduate course (Non-PG JR) and 40 (26%) were senior resident (SR) doctors. Only 24% (n-36) of doctors have done previous certified CPR training course. The awareness of resuscitation amongst all doctors was 71% and observed highest amongst the PG JRs 73%. The core knowledge of BLS and ACLS was only 47% and 44% respectively, amongst all doctors. Conclusion: Majority of resident doctors have limited knowledge of basic concept of BLS and ACLS guidelines. A well structured and evidence based format of CPR training should be incorporated in training modules for better outcome.