Resuscitation skills among the population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical life-saving skill.
• Assessing public confidence and competence in performing CPR is essential for effective emergency response.
• Previous studies highlight a gap between CPR training and self-perceived ability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the self-perceived capability of performing resuscitation among the population of Finnish Lapland.
• To assess the effectiveness of existing CPR training programs in this region.
• To identify potential shortcomings in CPR education and its delivery.

Main Methods:

• A postal survey was conducted in the Finnish Lapland county.
• The survey collected data on CPR training acquisition and self-assessed confidence in performing resuscitation.
• Data analysis focused on comparing training rates with perceived ability to act.

Main Results:

• 49% of the surveyed population reported receiving CPR instruction.
• Only 19% of the total population believed they could perform resuscitation.
• Among those trained, just 33% felt confident in their resuscitation skills.

Conclusions:

• Current CPR training in Finnish Lapland reaches only a portion of the population.
• The existing training programs do not adequately instill confidence or perceived competence in performing resuscitation.
• There is a need to increase the frequency and improve the quality of CPR education to enhance public preparedness.