Evaluation of Awareness and Knowledge of Basic Life Support Among Physiotherapy Students

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the major public health concern worldwide. Sudden cardiac death (SCD), is the most common cause of death worldwide. BLS- Basic life support is a key component of chain of survival .It helps to maintaining an airway and supporting breathing and circulation without using any equipment.It involves CPR- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - An evolving lifesaving technique in modern medicine that includes a series of lifesaving actions that improve survival rates.Physical therapists work in collaboration with clinical, nursing, emergency staff.They using exercise as a therapeutic approach, so they must have good knowledge and skills in CPR ,not only to deal with possible adverse cardiac events during exercise but also because the widespread application of CPR is early defibrillation can significantly reduce cardiac mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-administered questionnaire of 20 questions was formed and link of this questionnaire was spread from social media platforms. Questionnaire had three parts - Demographic data, Information regarding to Past experience of BLS, Knowledge about CPR. Total 105 students of all four years of B. physiotherapy and MPT Students filled the form. Statistical analysis of 101 students was done. RESULTS: Results shows that Physiotherapy Students have poor to average knowledge about BLS. Especially in knowledge of EMS, Methods of ventilation, chest compression depth, Rate of compression, choking strategies and recovery position after drowning. CONCLUSION: knowledge and awareness about BLS among physiotherapy students is inadequate and research is highly needed to establish effective strategies for improving the same. Key words: Basic life support, Physiotherapy students.