Theoretical Knowledge of Greek Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Professionals on Basic Life Support - Abstract - Keywords

Sep 23, 2026

Evaluation of BLS knowledge examined how healthcare and non-healthcare professionals understand basic life support and the use of an AED. A total of 324 healthcare and 141 non-healthcare participants completed anonymous questionnaires before and after training delivered in 42 BLS courses. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.70, and mean differences were tested with t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results show overall knowledge improvement after training and greater gains in non-healthcare participants and women, with self-rated knowledge exceeding test-measured knowledge.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keywords

Introduction

International Journal of Caring Sciences January-April 2019 Vol 12 | Issue 1 | Page321 Original Article Theoretical Knowledge of Greek Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Professionals on Basic Life Support Panagiotis Prezerakos, RN, PhD Profes, Labor. of Integrated Healthcare, Dep. of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece Angeliki Dreliozi, RN, MSc., PhD Laboratory of Integrated Healthcare, Dep. of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece Panagiotis Samartzis, RN King’s College Hospital, London, UK Vasilios Drosatos, RN, MSc (c) Laboratory of Integrated Healthcare, Dep. of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece Maria Malliarou, RN Associate Professor, Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Larissa, Greece Petros Galanis, RN, MSc, PhD Research Associate Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Konstantinos Petsios, RN, MHM.(c), MHSc, PhD Clinical Research Nurse, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece Lecturer (407/80), Department of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece Correspondence: Petsios Konstantinos, Clinical Research Nurse, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece [Email: petsiosk@gmail.com](Email: petsiosk@gmail.com), [kpetsios@uop.gr](kpetsios@uop.gr) | Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of cardiac arrest remains high and therefore Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training of health professionals has been widely implemented. The role of citizen bystanders in the out-of-hospital setting has been widely acknowledged.
Aim: The evaluation of the theoretical knowledge of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals on BLS and use ofAED (Automated External Defibrillator) .
Methods: 324 health professionals and 141 non-health professionals, trained in 42 BLS courses conducted in 2015, completed an anonymous questionnaire before and after their training. Questionnaire's Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.70. We used Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA to evaluate mean differences.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.6 ± 9.7 years. 70.3%(N=327) were women and 69.7%(N=324) healthcare professionals. Only 15.5%(N=72) of participants were trained in CPR in the last 6 months period. Men, higher education graduates, and health professionals had higher mean knowledge prior to training. Physicians and registered nurses performed significantly higher scores before and after the course (p=0,045 and p=0,034, respectively). Participants with previous BLS training self rated their knowledge as better (p=0,001) . The mean knowledge score revealed a significant increase post training (p = 0.05) and greater increase in non-health professionals (p = 0.05) and women (p = 0.007) .
Conclusion: Findings indicate that CPR courses improve knowledge and performance of both health professionalsand non-health care professionals. Individuals with more training experience self-assess higher their knowledge than their actual knowledge as assessed through knowledge tests. Future studies should focus on strategies for improving knowledge and skills' retention in trainees with different educational and professional background. | | --- | | Keywords: basic life support, resuscitation, cardiac arrest, bystander, health professional | Introduction Even though a cardiac arrest has been characterized as a dramatic event, during last decades it has been proven that successful resuscitation is possible. Nowadays, is widely acknowledged that CPR and defibrillation when provided rapidly and are adequately supported by International Journal of Caring Sciences January-April 2019 Vol 12 | Issue 1 | Page322 high quality post-resuscitation care, the possibility of good physical and neurological recovery is higher (Committee on the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest, 2015; Xanthos et al, 2012) . Favorable outcomes are best achieved by early resuscitation and bys

FAQs

What was the study aim regarding BLS and AED use?

To evaluate the theoretical knowledge of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals on basic life support and the use of an AED.

How was participant knowledge measured in the study?

Participants completed anonymous questionnaires before and after their training in BLS courses, and mean differences were analyzed using Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA.

What were the main findings after training?

CPR courses improved knowledge for both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals, with significant post-training increases and larger gains among non-healthcare participants and women.

Sep 23, 2026

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