Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill levels of the occupational health and safety students

Purpose: Chances of survival in cardiac arrest depend on early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The purpose of our study is to determine the level of knowledge and skills of the occupational health and safety students, who are medical candidates for the future, about the subject and the self-confidence of initiating basic life support (BLS) immediately without the 112 emergency aid ambulance crew arriving at the scene in case of a sudden cardiac arrest. Materials and Methods: The participants include 289 freshmen students studying at the faculty of occupational health and safety, XXXXXX University, XXXX, Turkey during the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic year. The effects of gender, driving license, sporting interest, receiving word attack skills education and having cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training on the model before university, receiving word attack skills education and having CPR training on the model at university upon the location of press, depth of press, speed of press, and pressure rhythm scores were investigated. Results: 209 students (82.3%) were male and 45 students (17.7%) were female. There is a significant difference in the self-confidence of the students in the study before and after the education, the answers given to the question ‘‘Do you currently have CPR training?’’ (p=0.0001). A statistically significant difference was found in terms of pressure depth score among students who had no education on the model of CPR before and after the university (p=0.047). A statistically significant difference was found in terms of pressure depth score of students who received or did not receive CPR training verbally at the university before the study (p=0.037). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of pressure place, pressure depth, and rhythm of the students who received and did not receive CPR on the model (p=0.028, p=0.022, p=0.025, respectively). Conclusion: As a result, occupational health and safety students who are often capable of reaching the scene faster than the health care professionals in the regions where they live should be provided with BLS trainings down from the start of their education life in an attempt to increase their knowledge and skills