Knowledge, Attitude, and Readiness towards Basic Life Support among Healthcare Workers, Medical Students, and the Public in Malaysia.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70672/fc1d2735Keywords:
Attitude, basic life support (BLS), CPR, knowledge, readiness.Abstract
Introduction: Basic Life Support (BLS) is a vital emergency procedure that improves survival outcomes following sudden cardiac arrest. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge, attitude, and readiness to perform BLS among healthcare workers, medical students, and the public in Malaysia. A total of 297 respondents (128 healthcare workers, 100 medical students, 69 members of the public) were recruited via convenience sampling from Ampang Hospital and Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak. All participants were aware of BLS and completed a structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS with chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Healthcare workers demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores (82.8% high knowledge) compared to medical students (49.0%) and the public (7.2%) (p<0.001). Attitudes toward BLS were positive across all groups 89.6% demonstrating a high attitude level. However, readiness to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was critically low among the public, with 100% classified as having low readiness. Prior training, perceived competence, and frequency of practice influenced readiness levels. Despite positive attitudes, lack of hands-on experience, particularly among non-healthcare respondents, emerged as a key barrier. Conclusion: Targeted BLS education and practical training programs are urgently needed. To improve community responsiveness in emergencies, it is recommended that BLS training be incorporated into educational curricula, workplace training, and community program.
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