Assessment of knowledge and attitudes of physical education students about basic life support

Aims: Sudden cardiac death in athletes can occur during training or competition. In such situations, the timely and effective application of basic life support (BLS) can save lives. This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of students from the Faculty of Sport Sciences regarding BLS practices through a survey. Methods: The study was conducted prospectively on students from the Faculty of Sport Sciences. BLS knowledge was assessed using a questionnaire composed of two sections. The first section collected demographic data, while the second focused on sudden cardiac death and BLS practices. Results: A total of 404 participated in the study. While 96.8% of students could recognize at least one indicator of sudden cardiac arrest, 3.2% could not identify any. Among participants, 85.9% knew how to perform chest compressions correctly, but only 56.7% identified the correct site, 18.6% knew the correct frequency, and 45.8% knew the correct compression depth. The proportion of students who correctly understood rescue breaths was 17.6%, while only 29.9% knew the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio. Additionally, 92.8% of students were unaware of the purpose of using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Overall, 75% of participants had previously received BLS training. Students with prior training demonstrated significantly better knowledge regarding pulse assessment duration, the definition and site of chest compressions, and AED usage compared to those without training (p<0.05). Similarly, students who had witnessed a sudden cardiac arrest scored significantly higher on questions related to chest compressions, hands-only CPR, and AED usage (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that the knowledge level of Sport Sciences Faculty students regarding BLS practices is inadequate. However, students with prior BLS training and those who have witnessed sudden cardiac arrest demonstrated higher levels of knowledge. It is recommended that sport sciences students receive regular BLS training to leverage their youth and dynamism for the benefit of public and athletic health.