Impact of basic life support training on the knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among final-year medical students

Background: Effective and prompt intervention following an episode of cardiac arrest increases survival probability. This underscores the need for basic life support (BLS) training among first-line health-care workers. This study assesses the impact of BLS training among final-year medical students in a Nigerian institution. Materials and Methods: Pre- and Post-BLS training questionnaires aimed at assessing knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were administered to 72 final-year medical students. Response to 20 questions were scored (total score 20), collated, and analyzed. Knowledge was graded as good if total score was 15 and above and poor if total score was <15. Results: The lowest score pre-BLS training was 6 and the highest score was 16, with a mean of 10.68 ± 2.24. The lowest score post-BLS training was 13 and the highest score was 19, with a mean of 16.8 ± 1.52. Good knowledge of BLS was demonstrated in 8.3% and 88.9% of students pre- and post-BLS training, respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge base about CPR of final-year medical students in Nigeria is low but was remarkably improved with a focused BLS training.