Knowledge and Skill-Based Orientation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation among Dentists in Twin Cities of Pakistan: A Need for Change

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and skill of dentists in CPR in the dental institutes of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with 210 participants was conducted in six dental institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Data collection was obtained achieved by a online self- structured questionnaire, which was divided into three parts. The first part comprised of demographic questions, the second part focused on their theoretical knowledge, and the third part evaluated their skill in performing CPR. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-22. Results: Less than half of the dentists at various educational levels were able to answer theoretical questions correctly in most of the queries. Out of 210 dentists, only 41.4% reported that they have enough knowledge about CPR. Out of 10 theoretical questions, only 5 were answered by more than 50% of dentists. The skill-based assessment showed that 31.9% of dentists were confident in performing CPR. Conclusion: Based on our study, we concluded that the majority of dentists were not well-oriented with the knowledge of CPR. The skill-based orientation was much weaker than the knowledge-based orientation, leading us to a recommendation that basic life support training courses should be added to the curriculum of dental students as well as mandatory CPR workshops for dental practitioners. Key Words: Cardiopulmonary Arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Dentists, Knowledge, Skill.