Knowledge, Attitude and Willingness to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among Medical Students in University of Ilorin: A Cross Sectional Study
This cross-sectional study of 270 medical students at the University of Ilorin reveals that while they generally hold positive attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), significant gaps in knowledge and willingness to intervene persist, driven by barriers such as inadequate skills, fear of harm, and legal concerns, thereby highlighting the need for enhanced practical training and supportive policies.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Imagine a group of future doctors as a team of firefighters in training. They have studied the blueprints of a burning building, memorized the location of every hose, and can recite the safety manual from memory. But the real question is: If they saw a fire start right in front of them, would they grab the hose and run in?
This study, conducted at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, asked exactly that question to 270 medical students regarding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)—the emergency "firefighting" technique used to restart a stopped heart.
Here is what the study found, broken down into simple terms:
1. The Training: "They've Read the Manual"
About 6 out of 10 students had already been taught CPR formally, mostly because it was part of their school lessons. Think of this as the students having attended a classroom lecture on how to put out a fire.
- The Catch: Even though many had the training, only a tiny fraction (about 1 in 7) had ever actually used CPR on a real person. It's like having a driver's license but never having driven in heavy traffic.
2. The Knowledge: "Good, But Not Perfect"
When the students were tested on their "firefighting" theory:
- The Score: On a test out of 9 points, the average score was about 6.4.
- The Result: Roughly half of the students knew enough to be considered "good," but the other half had gaps in their knowledge.
- The Specific Gaps: While almost everyone knew CPR needs to be done on a hard, flat floor (like a concrete sidewalk, not a soft bed), many were confused about the exact order of steps or how deep to push on the chest. It's like knowing you need to turn the key to start a car, but forgetting which way to turn it.
- Who Knew More? Students in their final years (who had more hospital experience) and those who had taken extra CPR classes knew more than the others.
3. The Attitude: "They Want to Help"
This was the strongest part of the story. The students' hearts were in the right place.
- 91% of them had a positive attitude. They believed saving a life was their job, that everyone should learn CPR, and that the training was worth the time.
- Imagine a room full of people raising their hands and shouting, "Yes! I want to be a hero!" That is how they felt about the idea of CPR.
4. The Willingness: "The Hesitation at the Door"
Here is where the plot twist happens. Even though they wanted to help and knew the theory, only about 63% said they would actually do CPR if they saw someone collapse right now.
- The Gap: There is a "fear gap" between knowing what to do and actually doing it.
- The Barriers (The Monsters in the Closet): Why were they hesitating? The students listed four main fears:
- "I'm not good enough at the skills" (Fear of messing it up).
- "I might hurt them" (Fear of causing more damage).
- "I could get sued" (Fear of legal trouble).
- "I might catch a disease" (Fear of infection).
5. Who Was Most Likely to Jump In?
The study found two groups that were more confident in jumping into action:
- Men: Male students were more likely to say "Yes, I'll do it" compared to female students.
- The Trained: Students who had actually practiced CPR before were much more willing to act. It's like a person who has practiced swimming in a pool is more likely to jump in to save someone than someone who has only read a book about swimming.
6. What Would Make Them Act?
The study asked what would give them the courage to run into the "fire." Two things stood out:
- Having a buddy: If other people were standing around watching, they felt more willing to step up.
- Legal Safety: If they knew the law would protect them from being sued if they tried to help, they would be much more likely to act.
The Bottom Line
The students at the University of Ilorin are enthusiastic and well-meaning, but they are lacking in confidence and practical experience. They have the "heart" to save lives, but they need more "hands-on" practice and a little bit of legal reassurance to feel safe enough to actually do it when the moment comes.
The Authors' Advice:
To fix this, the study suggests:
- More Practice: Don't just teach the theory; give them more chances to practice on dummy bodies so they feel confident.
- Keep it Fresh: Teach CPR again and again, not just once, because knowledge fades over time like a forgotten recipe.
- Legal Reassurance: Make it clear that if they try to help, the law will protect them.
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