DefinePK

Abstract

Abstract


Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of basic life support among physical therapy practitioners.

Method: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan, from February to July 2018, and comprised data collected from physical therapy practitioners working at four public-sector hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A 30-item structured questionnaire adapted from the American Heart Association was used. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.

Results: Of the 100 subjects, 65(65%) were females and 35(35%) were males. The overall mean age was 25.54±3.76 years. The mean score of BLS knowledge and practice was 7.27±1.79 and 3.77±1.65 respectively. of the total, 61(61%) had received prior basic life support training, and the difference in knowledge and practice scores between trained and untrained professionals was significant (p75% was considered excellent, >65%-75% very good, >55%-65% good, >45%-55% average, >30%-45% poor and % of the respondents were not aware about the management of choked and collapsed patients, depth of chest compression in children and neonates, and rescue breaths in infants. Similar results were reported by a study on Egyptian medical students.14 In the current study, female PTs had less score about BLS knowledge. Likewise, a study reported poor overall BLS knowledge among female students in Saudi Arabia.15 A study concluded that the male population had a higher l evel of k nowl ed ge than fema l es (p< 0.0 01).16 Regarding BLS knowledge scores, in our study total participants in the excellent category were about 9%. A study found 20% falling in that category.3 Also, 35% of our participants were in the average category, and one study reported 35% of medical students in that category.17 Besides, 17% and 1% of our subjects were in the poor and very poor categories. A study on medical students and nurses reported 31.1% and 14% in the poor category respectively.17 Knowledge of BLS among medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and allied health science students and health providers at Qassim University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was found to be poor.18 Awareness level on BLS was below average with 61.9% subjects stressing the importance of professional training at all levels in a tertiary care health institution.19 Not much different were the results of a study involving students, doctors and nurses in India.8 About the BLS practice, 51% in the current study fell in the category of very poor, 23% in poor, and only 2% in the excellent category. A study reported 1.5% excellent and 48.6% very poor categories.3 In our study 100% participants were of the opinion that BLS training should be part of the educational curriculum. And 89% participants said they would like to go on BLS training with hands-on practice. Likewise, in a study 92.21% subjects were willing to attend a hands-on workshop.3 Another study found 84.4% dentists willing to be trained.12The current study was the first of its kind from Pakistan as no national data has been reported earlier on BLS KAP among PTs. The study does have its limitations. The par ticipants were reluc tant to have knowledge assessment, and BLS proficiency was subjectively measured. Thus, it is recommended to objectively evaluate practice skills of PTs on a larg scale to better generalise the findings. Also, the updated 2015 BLS AHA guidelines could not be evaluated on PTs because in literature predefined structured questionnaire was only available up to 2010 guideline.8,9 Future studies should evaluate KAP findings on PTs according to the updated guidelines with particular emphasis on age groups.

 

Conclusion

 

PTs possessed average knowledge of BLS but majority had deficient practice skills required to execute BLS effectively. Male PTs had a higher knowledge of BLS, whereas female PTs possess better practical skills. Both showed a positive attitude towards BLS training and certification.

 

Disclaimer: None.

Conflict of Interest: None.

Source of Funding: None.

 

References

 

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