Facilitators, Barriers and Determinants of Basic Life Support Skills amongst Undergraduate Medical Students and interns in a medical college of Hapur, India: An analytical study

Abstract Background: Basic life support (BLS) is essential for healthcare professionals, yet training gaps persist in medical education. This study evaluated facilitators, barriers and the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to BLS amongst medical students and interns. Materials and Methods: An analytical study was conducted amongst 635 medical students and interns at a Tertiary Care Centre in Hapur using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate tests. Results: A total of 635 participants were included in the study, where participants had a mean age of 21.8 ± 1.9 years. Despite 70.9% having attended BLS workshops, barriers outweighed facilitators. Major barriers included lack of formal training (56.6%) and poor curriculum integration (24.1%). Facilitators included curriculum inclusion (38%) and annual workshops (30.1%). Poor KAP scores predominated across all academic years, with fewer than 15 students demonstrating good preparedness in the final year and only five among interns. Workshop participation improved outcomes, with minimal gender differences. Age showed a weak correlation with KAP. Conclusions: Persistently low levels of perceived knowledge and self-reported preparedness toward BLS, despite high workshop attendance, highlight systemic gaps in medical education. These findings support the need for mandatory, structured and longitudinal BLS training within undergraduate medical curricula, with greater emphasis on repeated reinforcement and practical exposure.