Knowledge About Basic Life Support Among University Students.

BACKGROUND

Basic life support (BLS) is an essential skill set for responding to emergencies like cardiac arrest. However, the level of preparedness and interest in BLS among university students remains underexplored, especially in nonmedical populations.

METHODS

This study surveyed 427 University of Beira Interior (UBI) students to assess their knowledge, confidence, and interest in BLS training. A cross-sectional questionnaire was used to gather data on previous BLS exposure, perceived competence, and preferences for further training.

RESULTS

This study focused on a sample of 427 students from the UBI, where 246 (57.6%) had BLS training (group A), predominantly from health-related courses, while 181 (42.4%) had no such training (group B), primarily from non-health-related courses. The study revealed that students with BLS training had significantly higher confidence and preparedness in recognizing and responding to emergencies, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using defibrillators, compared to those without training. Despite the overall interest in BLS training, particularly through practical sessions, there remains a disparity in access to such education, particularly among students in non-health-related fields. The findings highlight the need for integrating BLS training into the curriculum, potentially starting at the secondary education level, to ensure widespread competence in life- saving skills across the population.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the critical need for integrating BLS training into earlier stages of education to improve preparedness across the population. The findings suggest that widespread, practical, and accessible BLS training could significantly enhance emergency response outcomes.