Background Victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have higher survival rates and more favorable neurological outcomes when basic life support (BLS) maneuvers are initiated quickly after collapse. Although more than half of OHCAs are witnessed, BLS is infrequently provided, thereby worsening the survival and neurological prognoses of OHCA victims. According to the theory of planned behavior, the probability of executing an action is strongly linked to the intention of performing it. This intention is determined by three distinct dimensions: attitude, subjective normative beliefs, and control beliefs. We hypothesized that there could be a decrease in one or more of these dimensions even shortly after the last BLS training session. Objective The aim of this study was to measure the variation of the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation according to the time elapsed since the last first-aid course. Methods Between January and April 2019, the two largest companies delivering first-aid courses in the region of Geneva, Switzerland sent invitation emails on our behalf to people who had followed a first-aid course between January 2014 and December 2018. Participants were asked to answer a set of 17 psychometric questions based on a 4-point Likert scale (“I don’t agree,” “I partially agree,” “I agree,” and “I totally agree”) designed to assess the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation. The primary outcome was the difference in each of these dimensions between participants who had followed a first-aid course less than 6 months before taking the questionnaire and those who took the questionnaire more than 6 months and up to 5 years after following such a course. Secondary outcomes were the change in each dimension using cutoffs at 1 year and 2 years, and the change regarding each individual question using cutoffs at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Univariate and multivariable linear regression were used for analyses. Results A total of 204 surveys (76%) were analyzed. After adjustment, control beliefs was the only dimension that was significantly lower in participants who took the questionnaire more than 6 months after their last BLS course (P<.001). Resisting diffusion of responsibility, a key element of subjective normative beliefs, was also less likely in this group (P=.001). By contrast, members of this group were less afraid of disease transmission (P=.03). However, fear of legal action was higher in this group (P=.02). Conclusions Control beliefs already show a significant decrease 6 months after the last first-aid course. Short interventions should be designed to restore this dimension to its immediate postcourse state. This could enhance the provision of BLS maneuvers in cases of OHCA.

BACKGROUND Victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) have higher survival rates and more favorable neurological outcomes when basic life support (BLS) maneuvers are initiated quickly after collapse. Despite these significant benefits, and though more than half of OHCA are witnessed, BLS is infrequently provided. According to the theory of planned behavior, the probability of executing an action is strongly linked to the intention of performing it. We hypothesized that there could be a decrease in the intention of performing resuscitation even shortly after the last BLS training session. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to measure the variation over time of the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation: attitude, subjective normative beliefs, and control beliefs. METHODS The two largest companies delivering first aid courses in the region of Geneva, Switzerland, sent invitation e-mails on our behalf to people who had followed a first aid course in the last five years. Participants were asked to answer a set of 17 psychometric questions designed to assess each dimension of the intention to perform resuscitation. The primary outcome was the change in each dimension at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were the change in each dimension at one and two years and the change regarding each individual question at 6 months, one year and two years. RESULTS Out of 270 completed surveys, 204 (76%) were analyzed. Control beliefs was the only dimension that displayed a significant change at 6 months (<i>P</i> < .001). Participants who had followed their last BLS course more than 6 months ago were however more prone to diffusion of responsibility, a key element of subjective normative beliefs (<i>P</i> = .001). Fear of legal action was higher in participants who had followed their last BLS course more than 2 years ago (<i>P</i> = .04). CONCLUSIONS Control belief, a dimension of the intention to perform resuscitation, rapidly decreases after the last first aid course. Short interventions should be designed to restore this dimension to its immediate post-course state. This could enhance the provision of BLS maneuvers in case of OHCA.

BackgroundAccording to the theory of planned behaviour, the probability of executing an action is strongly linked to the intention of performing it. The aim of this study was to measure the variation over time of the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation, i.e. attitude, subjective normative beliefs, and control beliefs.MethodsThe two largest companies delivering first aid courses in the region of Geneva, Switzerland, sent invitation e-mails on our behalf to people who had followed a first aid course in the last five years. Participants were asked to answer a set of 17 psychometric questions designed to assess each dimension of the intention to perform resuscitation. The primary outcome was the change in each dimension at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were the change in each dimension at one and two years and change in each individual question at 6 months, one year and two years.ResultsOut of 270 completed surveys, 204 were analysed. Control beliefs was the only dimension that displayed a significant change at 6 months (p < 0.001). Participants who had followed their last BLS course more than 6 months ago were however more prone to diffusion of responsibility, a key element of subjective normative beliefs (p = 0.001). Fear of legal action was higher in participants who had followed their last BLS course more than 2 years ago (p = 0.040).ConclusionsControl belief, a dimension of the intention to perform resuscitation, rapidly decreases after the last first aid course.