Abstract 44: Evaluation of Knowledge Levels in Basic Life Support of Students from Last Year of Medicine Graduation

Background: Due to high rates of cardiac arrest in countries like USA, Canada and Brazil, it is very important that students in the health field know the Basic Life Support (BLS), especially medical students. Hypothesis: We evaluated the hypothesis that medical students in the last year of medicine graduation of a public university of Sao Paulo, Brazil, would be able to pass the practical test of the course of the American Heart Association BLS. Methods: We studied 136 medical students in the last year of medicine graduation. The assessment of knowledge levels of BLS was performed by an experienced instructor with the check-list of the BLS Test of AHA according to the 2005 Guidelines of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation by AHA. Skills were realized on a BLS manikin. Results: The mean age was 24.4 ±1.8 years, 68% were male. Five students had the BLS course certificate by AHA. It was observed that all of the participants did not accomplish, at least, one of the evaluation requirements. According to the criteria of the Test BLS: 94% checked for response, 68% told someone to phone emergency response number and 86% got an AED, 70% opened correctly the airway, 55% checked for no breathing, 45% gave two breaths, 71% evaluated carotid pulse, 64% delivered first cycle of compressions at correct rate, 52% gave two breaths, 46% delivered second cycle of compressions at correct hand position, 56% gave two breaths. Concerning the AED use, 36% turned AED on, 74% selected proper AED pads and places correctly, 40% cleared victim to analyze, 69% cleared victim to shock, 95% restarted chest compressions, 83% kept pads on the chest of the manikin. Conclusion: The results showed that an unsatisfactory level of knowledge in BLS is presented in the final year of medicine graduation, and suggests that the BLS course should be part of the curriculum of medical schools.