Parental knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding infant basic life support
Patricia Ching Yen Chia, Wee Bin Lian1
1SpecialKids Child Health and Development Clinic, 301 Upper Thomson Road, #03-03/04, Thomson Plaza, Singapore 574408. wblian@specialkidsclinic.com.sg.
Insights
Parental infant basic life support (IBLS) knowledge in Singapore is suboptimal, with significant gaps identified. Formal training and refresher courses are recommended to improve outcomes for children experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA).
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in children is rare but serious, often presenting as asystole.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical for improving survival and reducing morbidity in pediatric CPA cases.
- Understanding parental knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of infant basic life support (IBLS) is crucial for effective community-level preparedness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of parents in Singapore regarding infant basic life support (IBLS).
- To identify knowledge gaps in IBLS among parents and explore factors influencing this knowledge.
- To inform the development of targeted educational interventions for parents.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was conducted among 375 parents of children at the Neonatal Department of Singapore General Hospital.
- The survey collected demographic data, assessed IBLS knowledge, and explored attitudes and perceptions.
- Knowledge scores were analyzed overall and stratified by prior IBLS training, with statistical analysis of factors like educational qualification.
Main Results:
- The median Basic Knowledge (BK) T-score was 7, with a 55% pass rate among parents.
- Parents with prior IBLS training demonstrated significantly higher BK T-scores (median 8) compared to untrained parents (median 6).
- Higher educational qualifications correlated positively with all knowledge scores, while advanced knowledge pass rates were low (35.7%) even for trained parents.
Conclusions:
- Formal infant basic life support (IBLS) training is essential for parents to improve outcomes in pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA).
- Significant knowledge gaps exist, highlighting the need for structured IBLS education programs for parents in Singapore.
- Regular refresher courses are recommended to maintain and update parental knowledge and skills in basic life support.
Introduction:
Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in children is rare but significant, with poor survival rates and high morbidity. Asystole is the most common dysrhythmia, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is of great importance in such cases. We aimed to survey the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of parents in Singapore regarding infant basic life support (IBLS).
Methods:
A questionnaire survey was administered to parents of children managed at the Neonatal Department of Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, between 1 September and 31 December 2008. The questionnaire consisted of three sections--section A collected demographic data, section B included questions on knowledge, and section C explored attitudes and perceptions. Knowledge T-scores were analysed for the entire cohort and subanalysed with respect to prior IBLS training.
Results:
In our study cohort (n = 375), the median Basic Knowledge (BK) T-score was 7 (range 1-9) and the pass rate was 55%. Median BK T-scores were significantly different between untrained (6; range 3-9) and previously trained (8; range 3-9) participants. A majority of the trained participants obtained pass marks. Median Total Knowledge T-score, involving advanced questions, for previously trained participants was 11 (range 3-14), but pass rate was low (35.7%). Higher educational qualification was a significant factor impacting all scores. Untrained participants indicated interest in attending IBLS courses, while trained participants were interested in refresher courses.
Conclusion:
IBLS training, as part of basic cardiac life support training, is important given that CPR can significantly alter the outcome in children with CPA. Our survey revealed knowledge gaps that could be bridged through formal training. Refresher courses to regularly update parents' knowledge are recommended.
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