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Basic Life Support Knowledge and Simulated Chest Compression Performance Among Primary Health Care Staff: A
Rafał Wójcik1, Tomasz Kłosiewicz1, Mateusz Puślecki1
1Department of Medical Rescue, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60-608 Poznań, Poland.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Primary health care staff show gaps in basic life support (BLS) knowledge and chest compression skills. Simulation-based training is recommended to improve preparedness for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) events.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant public health concern.
- Limited data exist on primary health care (PHC) staff preparedness for basic life support (BLS).
- Many OHCA patients interact with PHC services prior to the event.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess BLS knowledge among PHC staff.
- To evaluate the quality of chest compressions performed by PHC staff.
- To identify factors influencing BLS performance in a primary care setting.
Main Methods:
- Multicentre, cross-sectional, simulation-based study in Poland.
- Included 162 PHC staff with direct patient contact.
- Assessed BLS knowledge via a 15-item test and chest compression quality using a manikin (QCPR).
Main Results:
- Median BLS knowledge score was 9/15; mean compression depth was below recommended levels (41.3 mm).
- Only 23.5% of compressions met depth criteria; 30.2% had correct rate; 55.0% achieved full recoil.
- Higher BLS knowledge correlated with better compression quality, but this was not significant in mixed-effects models.
Conclusions:
- PHC staff exhibit deficiencies in BLS knowledge and chest compression technique.
- Inadequate compression depth and rate were key performance issues.
- Recurrent, simulation-based BLS training is crucial for all PHC personnel to enhance OHCA response.
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