Knowledge of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Use in the General Population

Introduction. Sudden cardiac arrest represents a significant public health issue worldwide. Laypersons are often the first responders in emergencies. Timely recognition of the distressed individual and providing aid is crucial. Education on basic life support procedures is essential to reduce mortality among affected individuals, alongside addressing laypersons’ fear of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of Croatian citizens regarding basic life support procedures and knowledge of automated external defibrillator use.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 597 respondents in Croatia between November 2022 and April 2023. The research was carried out using an online questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. The questionnaire utilized a combination of Atlagić K. and Al Haliq’s surveys. The obtained results were presented in frequency and percentage of respondents. Continuous variables were displayed using mean and standard deviation.Results. The majority of respondents (89.9%) had attended a first aid course. Half of the respondents (56.3%) expressed readiness to provide assistance to an injured person. A high percentage of respondents (87.4%) recognized chest compressions as the most crucial measure during cardiac arrest. Only 52.8% of respondents were aware of the 30:2 compressionto- ventilation ratio. When it comes to who is allowed to use an automated external defibrillator, only 35.2% of respondents knew that everyone can use it. A statistically significant difference was observed concerning the education level of respondents, with those with primary education being the least prepared to apply life-saving measures.Conclusion. Respondents showed readiness to provide first aid; however, there was a knowledge gap despite attending first aid courses. This highlights the need for introducing education initiatives aimed at enhancing citizens’ knowledge of administering first aid.