Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Jan 2024)

Assessing the Proficiency in Basic and Advanced Life Support Among Physicians in Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Izquierdo-Condoy JS,
  • Naranjo-Lara P,
  • Arias Rodríguez FD,
  • Puglla-Mendoza AG,
  • Jima-Sanmartín J,
  • Andrade Casanova D,
  • Duque-Sánchez EP,
  • Alegría N N,
  • Rojas Cadena MG,
  • Ortiz-Prado E

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 25 – 35

Abstract

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Juan S Izquierdo-Condoy,1 Patricio Naranjo-Lara,1 Fabián D Arias Rodríguez,2 Alexander Gilberto Puglla-Mendoza,1 Jackson Jima-Sanmartín,1 Dayana Andrade Casanova,1 Erick Patricio Duque-Sánchez,1 Nicolás Alegría N,1 Marlon Guillermo Rojas Cadena,1 Esteban Ortiz-Prado1 1One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador; 2Área de Gestión de Docencia e Investigación, Hospital Pediátrico Baca Ortiz, Quito, EcuadorCorrespondence: Esteban Ortiz-Prado, One Health Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Ecuador Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, 170137, Ecuador, Tel +593995760693, Email [email protected]: Cardiorespiratory arrest’s unpredictability poses a global health challenge, with gaps in physicians’ life support knowledge potentially leading to poor patient outcomes, a factor yet unstudied among Ecuadorian physicians. This study aims to elucidate the state of physicians’ theoretical knowledge in Ecuador based on Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) guidelines.Patients and methods: A national cross-sectional online 35-questions survey was conducted between February and March 2023 using a self-administered, expert-validated questionnaire. Participants’ responses were obtained through official social media groups (WhatsApp and Facebook). The survey evaluated the theoretical knowledge of BLS and ALS, with scores based on the number of correct answers out of a maximum of 10.0 points. For descriptive analysis, frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations (SD) were used. The T-test and one-way ANOVA were utilized to analyze the associations between knowledge levels and demographic and academic training variables of Ecuadorian doctors. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant for all analyses.Results: The survey garnered responses from 385 physicians, with a majority being female (56.6%) and possessing less than 3 years of work experience (75.1%). Of these, 71.7% and 51.9% held BLS and ALS certifications, respectively. Knowledge scores for BLS (5.8/10 ± 1.6) surpassed those for ALS (4.7/10 ± 1.8) (p < 0.001). Physicians with less than 3 years of work experience exhibited higher knowledge scores in both BLS and ALS tests (p < 0.05).Conclusion: This study revealed a notable deficiency in the theoretical knowledge of BLS and ALS among surveyed Ecuadorian physicians. Factors such as prior certification and years of work experience appeared to influence knowledge levels. Continual training and updates in life support protocols at universities and healthcare institutions are key to enhancing physicians’ skills and patient outcomes.Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, knowledge, education, medical, physicians

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