Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A survey of prehospital providers

This study evaluated the knowledge and skills, the attitudes, the behaviors of general practitioners, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMT) about cardiopulmonary rescucitation (CPR) practices, and the influencing factors. A total of 451 subjects working in 112 emergency ambulance services were included in the study. Of the participants, 61.2% were female and 38.8% were male. Of the personel, 8.6% were general practitioners, 14.6% were paramedics, 61.2% were EMTs, 15.5% were nurses and medical officers. A questionnaire form composed of 36 questions about demographic data and data which could influence the knowledge level was used. Descriptive statistics were performed and marginal tables were created. The age range was 25-34 years in 48.3% of the participants; 26.2% had been working for emergency services for 7-10 years. Of the participants, 83.1% were working in 112 emergency health units, and 16.9% were working at the command control center. When the participants were asked how frequent the courses should be, 49% of the participants stated that it should be carried out once a year, 12% said that it should be given once every 5 years, and 17% stated that the course should be repeated whenever new data are added to the literature or when the CPR guidelines change. Forty-eight percent of the participants responded as 'yes', and 1% as 'absolutely no' to the question 'Do you think that you perform CPR as required?'. Our questionnaire study indicates that education programs should be developed for the personnel working at prehospital health services, and that these programs should be repeated annualy for increasing the practice and to improve the knowledge level of the workers.