Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Early and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving
technique in cardiorespiratory arrest victim. CPR is effective when health professionals have
sufficient knowledge and attitude. However inadequate knowledge and attitude levels of health
professionals towards CPR are the major concerns which affects victims outcome.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude level of health professionals and associated
factors towards adult CPR among health professionals at the Gondar University
Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from February 15 to
March 15, 2018. A total of 406 health professionals were included in the study. Simple random
sampling was used to select the study participants. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic
regression was used to identify factors associated knowledge and attitude level of health
professionals. Variables with a p-value less than <0.2 in the bivariable analysis was fitted into
the multivariable analysis. Both Crude Odds Ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)
with 95% Confidence Interval were calculated to show the strength of association. In
multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically
significant. Hosmer and Lemeshow test was used to assess the goodness of fit.
Results: In this study, about 25.1% (95% CI: 21.2, 29.3) of health professionals had good
knowledge and 60.8% (95% CI: 55.9, 65.5) of health professionals had good attitude about
adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Work experiences (AOR: 5.02, 95% CI: 1.25, 20.20),
work exposure (AOR: 6.52, 95% CI: 2.76, 15.41), taking CPR training (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI:
1.40, 5.42), exposure to cardiac arrest case (AOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.07) and reading CPR
guidelines (AOR: 5.57, 95% CI: 2.76, 11.20) were positively associated with good knowledge.
Similarly, CPR training (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.42, 1.53) and reading CPR guideline (AOR:
2.74, 95% CI: 1.55, 4.85) were positively associated with good attitude.
Conclusions and Recommendations: In this study, the knowledge and attitude level of health
professionals towards adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation was suboptimal. CPR training and
reading CPR guidelines were significantly associated with both good knowledge and attitude
of health professionals’ towards CPR. While, health professionals work experience, work
exposure and exposure to cardiac arrest case were significantly associated with good
knowledge. Thus, regular CPR training and reading CPR guidelines are recommended to
increase the knowledge and attitude level of health professionals towards adult CPR.
Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, knowledge, attitude, health professional
