University of Malta staff and students’ readiness to deliver CPR/AED

Abstract

Background: Despite advances in resuscitation technology, the chance of surviving an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is still low. Evidence clearly indicates that commencing immediate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and delivering Automated External Defibrillation (AED) can increase the chances of survival. However, the use of these life-saving techniques by the general public is still low. While the importance of having a population knowledgeable in CPR/AED is evident, there is limited research with regards to the perceived competence, confidence and willingness of the population to respond to out-of-hospital SCA. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine University of Malta staff and students’ readiness in delivering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillation. Design and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach using a self-designed online questionnaire was adopted to collect data for this study. The whole population of the University of Malta was recruited (N=12894), with a response rate of 11.85% (n=476). Results: More than half of the respondents attended CPR training, however less than half attended AED training. Findings revealed that while respondents did not perceive themselves competent and confident in providing CPR/AED, they displayed adequate knowledge and a high willingness to act in situations of SCA. Conclusions: Despite that CPR/AED training for staff and students is available and generally accessible and a high level of willingness has been reported, the overall readiness of respondents still seems to be relatively low.