Open AccessAttitudes towards Cpr among Allied Health Students in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author(s) -
Alaa O Oteir,
Khader A Almhdawi,
Saddam F Kanaan,
Mahmoud T Alwidyan,
Brett Williams
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
australasian journal of paramedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.177
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 2202-7270
DOI - 10.33151/ajp.17.860
Subject(s) - cardiopulmonary resuscitation , positive attitude , medicine , cross sectional study , family medicine , resuscitation , emergency medicine , psychology , social psychology , pathology
Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with increased survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This aim of this study was to explore the attitudes to CPR among allied health students in Jordan; and to compare the attitudes to performing chest compression-only (CC) CPR versus CPR with mouth-to-mouth ventilation (MMV).MethodsA cross-sectional study using a 17-item attitude questionnaire that assessed the attitude to CPR in general, and to performing MMV and CC on different patient groups (the other gender, strangers, relatives, children), and despite infection concerns.ResultsA total of 856 participants completed the questionnaire (mean age 20.8 years, 74.0% female); 79.2% of participants were willing to learn and practise CPR encouraged by their cultural values and religious beliefs and had a positive attitude towards the benefits of CPR. Compared to MMV, a greater proportion of students had a positive attitude towards performing CC on strangers (71.7% vs 29.6%, p<0.001), relatives (77.9% vs 40.4, p<0.001), patients of the other gender (62.3% vs 29.8%, p<0.001), and despite infection concerns (67.9% vs 24.1%, p<0.001). Compared to males, a higher proportion of females had a positive attitude about delivering CC to relatives (80.7% vs 70.0%, p=0.004) and despite the infection concerns (71.1% vs 58.7%, p=0.007). Females were more reluctant to perform MMV on males (26.1% vs 40.4%, p=0.02), strangers (25.3% vs 41.7%, p=0.01) and relatives (36.5% vs 51.6%, p=0.01).ConclusionA large proportion of participants were willing to learn CPR and had positive attitudes towards its benefits. Females were more inclined to perform CC compared to males, whereas males were more likely than females to deliver MMV. More training is recommended, and clear legislation regarding the legal liabilities of rescuers is needed in Jordan.