Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in 110 Undergraduates in Radiological Sciences at Jazan University.

BACKGROUND Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving intervention. Effective, early CPR can greatly increase survival and improve post-cardiac arrest quality of life. Therefore, all healthcare professionals, including medical students, should acquire CPR skills. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of CPR in 110 undergraduates in radiological sciences at Jazan University between February 1 and May 25, 2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Diagnostic Radiography Department at Jazan University using convenience sampling. Data were collected with a validated self-administered questionnaire, using an online Google form, between February 1 and May 25, 2022. The questionnaire collected demographic information, knowledge of CPR, and attitudes and practices toward performing CPR. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS Of 180 eligible students, 110 participated, yielding a response rate of 61.1%. The overall mean knowledge score was 46.6%, and the overall mean practice score was 28.7%, indicating poor proficiency in both domains. Although students had positive attitudes toward CPR, only a small percentage had practiced CPR in a simulated setting. The only significant association found was between prior CPR training and CPR knowledge (odds ratio=2.70; P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS This study reveals a significant discrepancy between radiography students' positive attitudes toward CPR and their deficient knowledge and practical skills. The strong correlation between prior training and proficiency underscores the inadequacy of current elective exposure. These findings necessitate the mandatory integration of a CPR course into the radiography curriculum to enhance students' knowledge and practice.