Factors influencing the practice of basic life support among nurses in three selected district hospitals

Abstract

Background: Basic Life Support (BLS) encompasses crucial techniques for aiding individuals in cardiac arrest, chocking, Traumatic Injurie, or respiratory distress situations. Factors influencing BLS effectiveness include nurses' knowledge, attitudes, training, experience, and exposure to relevant cases. Additionally, equipment availability, adequate resources, policies, protocols, response time, and sufficient staffing play vital roles. Aim: To identify the factors influencing the practice of basic life support among nurses in three selected hospitals. Methods: A quantitative descriptive approach, A cross-sectional design was employed to meet the study's objectives. The sample size reached was 175 (95.62%) out of 183 and the total population sampling strategy was used. The data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire. adapted and modified from questionnaires used to evaluate factors affecting the knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers towards basic life support in Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar province of Pakistan and permission was guaranteed. The tables were used to present the data after analysed SPSS software version 22 and presented in tables where applicable, the relationship between demographic data, level of study and knowledge scores was reported. Results: The study found that nurses 133 (76%) had poor knowledge of basic life support (BLS), 16(9.14%) had moderate knowledge, and 14.86% had good knowledge. Only 48(27.4 3%) had positive attitude, 59 (33.71%) had neutral attitude 68(38.86%) had negative attitude about basic life support. The chi-square test showed a significant relationship between demographic data and BLS knowledge level, CI = 26 and p = 0.000089. About 80.6% and 81.7% of the respondents reported the availability of updated BLS protocols and BLS equipment respectively. About 42% of participants attended BLS training at least twice, with 42.3% within the last 1-2 years. In-service training significantly impacted BLS knowledge (pvalue < 0.05), especially for those with 1-4 years of experience. Conclusion: Demographic factors, training frequency, certification, and hospital resources significantly influence nurses' practice of BLS. Implementing continuous training programs, ensuring the availability of necessary equipment, and addressing staffing challenges are essential steps towards improving BLS practices and patient outcomes in Rwandan district hospitals.