Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Basic Life Support among University-Enrolled Undergraduate Medical Students in Karachi

Knowledge and Practices of Life Support among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Basic Life Support (BLS) involves a core set of skills necessary to preserve life during medical emergencies. Both practical abilities and knowledge are crucial for managing life-threatening situations. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of BLS among undergraduate students enrolled in the medical program at a university in Karachi. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2022 to May 2022 at the Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, and included medical students of both genders from the first to the fifth year of the academic program. Data were gathered through a self-administered organized questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Out of 310 medical students, 54.2% were female, and 45.8% were male. The study revealed that only 22.3% had taken the BLS course. 55.3% of medical students had adequate theoretical knowledge, while their practical skills in BLS were weak. The majority of the students, 73.4% were not confident in performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and only 8.7% had performed BLS on patients. 4% stated that they could use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The attitude of medical students toward BLS was largely supportive, with 94% believing that BLS is essential for all medical students and should be integrated into the academic curriculum. Conclusions: It was concluded that Undergraduate medical students possess sufficient theoretical knowledge of BLS (CPR), while there is a significant gap in their practical skills. For this, continuous hands-on training in critical life-saving techniques should be included in the undergraduate program throughout their medical education.