Knowledge of and attitudes towards resuscitation in New Zealand high-school students

Abstract

Background: Introducing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in the high-school curriculum has been widely recommended as a long-term strategy to educate the wider community. Although CPR has been included in the New Zealand school curriculum, it is listed as an optional subject only. Aim: To assess the attitude towards and knowledge of CPR in 16-17-year-old high-school students in New Zealand. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 494 students aged 16-17 years across six high schools in Wellington, New Zealand. Both knowledge and attitude were evaluated in the questionnaire. Results: Students showed poor theoretical knowledge, with a mean (SD) score of 5.61 (2.61) out of a maximum score of 18. Although there was no difference between male and female students, those who had received previous first-aid training (70%) showed greater knowledge (6.04 (2.56)) than their untrained counterparts (4.91 (2.24); p = 0.001). Those students with a positive attitude towards CPR and first-aid training (63%) acquired a higher knowledge score (6.12 (2.4)) than those with a negative attitude (17%; 4.65 (2.5); p = 0.001). Students with negative associations were also less likely to want to learn more about CPR and first aid (11%) when compared with those with positive associations (92%), and indicated less willingness to perform CPR on a stranger (negative v positive, 47% v 70%). Conclusions: These findings suggest that although most high-school students are willing and motivated to learn CPR, a smaller percentage of students had a negative attitude towards CPR that would act as a barrier to future learning or performance of resuscitation. Introducing CPR training to high schools is still recommended; however, this study shows the need to associate this training with positive references in an attempt to assist those for whom negative attitude may present as a barrier to learning and retaining CPR knowledge.

CPR knowledge and attitude to performing bystander CPR among secondary school students in Norway

“…20 However, high school students in a New Zealand study 21 reported an even higher willingness to provide BLS to a family member than the Norwegian students in the present study. Compared to slightly younger high school students in the USA 18 our students were more reluctant to perform rescue breathing on a child, but more willing to resuscitate a family member, intravenous drug user and trauma victim.…”

“…In recent studies, the willingness to perform CPR varies considerably among high school students in e. g. Japan 20 and New Zealand. 21 To investigate knowledge of CPR and attitude to performing bystander CPR among young Norwegians, we questioned secondary school students about CPR training, self-reported experience with cardiac arrest situations, and how they think they would react in given cardiac arrest situations.…”

Knowledge and Attitude of Radiology Technologists Towards Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

“…The results of current study showed that radiology technologists participating in the study generally had a positive attitude towards CPR (80 ± out of 115), and a correlation was also observed between attitude towards CPR and technical knowledge. On the contrary, the technical knowledge of participants was poor (average 8.8 ± 2.3 of 17), which was in contrast with the findings of Parnell et al (20) who showed that students with a positive attitude toward CPR and first aid acquired a higher technical knowledge score than those with a negative attitude. But it was in line with the findings of Aaberg et al (16) and Giri et al (21).…”

First Aid Knowledge and Attitude of Secondary School Students in Saudi Arabia

“…Importantly, none of surveyed teachers achieved an excellent result. Parnell and collaborates [24] conducted a study to assess the attitude towards and knowledge of CPR among 494 high-school students 16 -17-years of age in New Zealand. Poor theoretical knowledge (mean score 5.61 ± 2.61 out of a maximum score of 18) was recorded.…”