ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMONG CARDIOLOGY PHYSICIANS AT A TERTIARY CARE CARDIAC HOSPITAL

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of basic life support among cardiology physicians from different categories. Methodology: This pilot prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi. from January 2008 to March, 2009. A total of 120 cardiology physician (postgraduate adult cardiology, trainee resident medical officer (TRMO) adult cardiology, TRMO cardiac surgery, postgraduate cardiac surgery and postgraduate anaesthesia) were included. The knowledge was assessed by administering a 27 item questionnaire to the participants in a group of up to 5 at a time. An average score of 60% was considered as cutoff for adequate result. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 11. Results: The average age of the 120 participants was 32.40 +/- 3.87. 102 (85%) were male with a male to female ratio was 5.66: 1. The average of correct responses of participant doctors to all 27 questions was 39.55%. It was 40.77% for postgraduates adult cardiology, 34.33% for trainee RMO adult cardiology, 55% for postgraduates cardiac surgery, 37% for trainee RMO cardiac surgery and 51% for postgraduates cardiac anesthesia. The average of correct responses to all 27 questions was 43.37% for all postgraduates (n=72) taken together and 34.11% for all trainee RMOs (n=48). Conclusion: The findings indicate that these participants had a low background knowledge and its retention regarding BLS. Overall, knowledge was not significantly different with respect to gender, category of doctors and their previous BLS attendance.