Investigating the Level of Knowledge of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel in Khuzestan Province about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Background and Objectives Effective management of critical emergency conditions in pre-hospital environments by health care providers working in the 115 ambulances as first responders is of vital importance, because it is directly related to the mortality rate and complications of these patients. Subjects and Methods In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 240 emergency personnel of Khuzestan province were selected by a two-stage cluster method. The data collection tool in this study was a demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire to assess the level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge based on the 2020 guidelines. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical tests, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient using SPSS version 23. Results The average age of the participants was 33.38 ± 7.24 years, out of 240 people examined, the knowledge level of 168 people (70%) of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was at an average level and only 2 people (8%) had knowledge at a weak level. Using ANOVA and t-test, no significant level was observed between the level of knowledge and demographic information (p>0.05). Conclusion The results of the present study showed that the level of knowledge of the emergency personnel of Khuzestan province about cardiopulmonary resuscitation is at an average level. CPR retraining courses are mandatory for the emergency medical staff based on the latest guidelines.