Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Basic Life Support in Postgraduate Medical Students in Atertiary Care Medical Institute of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Abstract
Background: An adequate knowledge and practice of providing Basic Life Support (BLS) and a positive attitude
towards initiating the procedure is very necessary among postgraduate medical students. The objective of this
study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding BLS among the medical postgraduate students
in a tertiary care medical institute.
Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 160 postgraduate students were assessed using a predefined
questionnaire based on American Heart Association’s BLS guidelines. Students who gave consent to participate
were included and those who filled the questionnaire incomplete were excluded from the study. Data analysis was
done by calculating the mean of the scores and converting that into percentages using Microsoft Excel. Odds ratio
was calculated to compare the scores of clinical and non-clinical postgraduate students.
Conclusion: Participants trained recently had better scores than those trained many years ago. All participants
showed positive attitude towards BLS. Clinical postgraduate students are 16.2 times more likely to have an average
knowledge of BLS (OR: 16.2) and are 4.84 times better at practice of BLS (OR: 4.84) than non-clinical postgraduate
students concluding that repeated training of all postgraduate medical students especially those working in nonclinical
departments is very important.