Relationship between knowledge and skill for basic life support in personnel of emergency medical services, Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

Background: Considering the importance of pre-hospital resuscitation, it is necessary to update staff on the relevant knowledge and skills through education, sufficient practice, good supervision and recruitment of appropriately qualified cadres. Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between knowledge and skills for emergency medical services (EMS) of basic life support in northwest Khuzestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2016. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all EMS (75 participants) in two emergency centers in the southwest of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sampling was done via the available census. Three questionnaires were used: 1) demographic information (age, time of participation in retraining classes, academic degree, and employment); 2) knowledge of basic life support (BLS); and 3) checklist of BLS and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, chi-square, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: 30.7% of the emergency medical services had poor knowledge (mean score was 19.35 1 / 10 WHO EMRO | Relationship between knowledge and skill for basic life support in emergency medical serv ± 3.9; range: 0-34) and 42.7% of subjects had poor skills (mean score was 5.40 ± 2.39; range: 0-9). Both results are higher than the national average. The findings also indicated that 70.7% of staff did not use AED devices correctly, and there was a significant relationship between staff knowledge and skills with AED device use (P < 0.05). Among the 41 participants that had taken part in training classes 12 months previously, more than 50% had poor skills (n=21) and only 7 participants had good skills. Also, among the 11 participants who had taken part in training classes 3 months ago, 7 participants had good skills. In general, there was no relationship between staff knowledge and skill (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that none of the participants acquired a full knowledge score and only 6 participants gained the total skill score.

Factors influencing paramedics’ and emergency medical technicians’ level of knowledge about the 2015 basic life support guidelines

“…Several other studies also reported that training in the last 3 or 6 months significantly increased the level of CPR knowledge [ 15 – 19 ]. In a systematic review where 34 different studies were evaluated, it was determined that, regardless of the time of training, people who had received CPR training at some point had significantly higher levels of CPR skills compared to those who had never received it [ 20 ].…”

“…This study examined the level of knowledge among EMTs and paramedics working in Kayseri 112 emergency health system regarding CPR. It was determined that having received training on CPR after 2015, having participated in a course or seminar on CPR in the last 3 months and having practiced defibrillation/ Several other studies also reported that training in the last 3 or 6 months significantly increased the level of CPR knowledge [15][16][17][18][19]. In a systematic review where 34 different studies were evaluated, it was determined that, regardless of the time of training, people who had received CPR training at some point had significantly higher levels of CPR skills compared to those who had never received it [20].…”

Unit Knowledge and Practice of Emergency Nursing Interventions at a Tertiary Public Cardiac Health Center in Uganda

“…It has also been highlighted that continuous training is required for nurses, especially when learning how to use sophisticated machines and skills in advanced procedures like defibrillation, and 12-lead ECG interpretation, while others require considerable repetition in training and clinical practice to keep up and performance improves when practicing relevant life support training courses. (Papi and Bahrami (2020); Tsegaye, et al (2015); Anderson (2019); Everett-Thomas, (2016). Torres (2019) and Ronda (2015), emphasize that the structure of the work environment provides conditions that can empower nurses, enabling them to be effective throughout all levels, reduce stress, promote nurse satisfaction, and financial costs or create a sense of powerlessness, which may influence patient and staff relationships.…”

“…Researchers adapted a four-part data collection tool developed by (Adenekan, et al, 2016;Mohamed, et al, 2019, Papi, et al, 2020 (Appendix 1). The first part addressed the demographic characteristics of the participants, followed by part two with 25 multiple choice knowledge-based questions.…”

“…Emergency care must be well planned and supported at all levels. While specialized knowledge and the ability to treat emergent conditions date to antiquity, EC as a medical specialty is only around 55 years old (Papi & Bahrami, 2020;Tsegaye et al, 2015). Emergency nursing has emerged as an additional specialty, where nurses care for patients in the emergency or the critical phase of their illness or injury.…”