Effects of basic life support training program on knowledge, perceived self-efficacy and basic life support performance in village health volunteers

Abstract

Background: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for rescuing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims. Therefore, basic life support (BLS) training is necessary to effectively save lives of OHCA patients. In rural Thailand, village health volunteers are usually the first responders to perform CPR and activate emergency medical service system on the patients. Unfortunately, BLS knowledge and performance after training program as well as the retention of those elements over time has not been studied in this population.

Objective: The primary objective of this quasi-experimental research was to investigate the effects of BLS training program on knowledge, perceived self-efficacy and BLS performance in village health volunteers.

Methods: Data were collected from 30 subjects using the BLS knowledge, perceived BLS self-efficacy questionnaires and BLS performance evaluation form before training, immediately after training and three months after training. The mean scores of the components were compared among various periods of assessment.

Results: Mean BLS knowledge and perceived BLS self-efficacy scores significantly increased immediately after training, compared with those of pre-training period but declined at 3 months after training. BLS performance scores at 3 months post-training period was significantly higher than that of the immediate post-training period.

Conclusions: BLS knowledge and perceived BLS self-efficacy was enhanced after training but they faded away over time. However, BLS performance was still boosted during 3 months after training.