Knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivers artificial ventilation and circulation to sustain life until advanced cardiac life support is available and normal cardiopulmonary function is reestablished. CPR has proven to be a vital lifesaving tool. Anyone can learn CPR and use it to help people experiencing medical emergencies like heart attacks, drowning, or electric shock. This can significantly reduce the number of deaths. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical students in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calculated sample size was 196 participants, using an anonymous online survey that was posted on social networking sites. Information was gathered on participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and awareness regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Knowledge regarding CPR was measured using a 16-point scale, on which the participants were rated as having little, some, or Fair/Fair level of knowledge. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science, with a significant level of p < 0.05. Result: Of the 203 medical students, 62.1% were males and 41.4% were between 21 and 23 years old. 55.2% were confident in giving cardiopulmonary massage in the event of cardiac arrest. The majority had moderate knowledge of CPR (54.2%), while 28.1% had poor knowledge. Factors associated with increased knowledge included increasing age, higher academic year level, knowledge on how to perform cardiac massage, attendance at BLS training, and awareness of the location of an automated external defibrillator (AED) or pacemaker. Conclusion: Lack of CPR knowledge was found among medical students, particularly in younger students in their junior years. Attending BLS training and developing CPR skills can improve their confidence. Further research into larger sample sizes could offer more insight into this issue.

References

1. 1.Goyal A, Singh B, Patel PH. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. [Updated 2023 Jun 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/books/NBK470402/
2. 2.World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025 Jul 31 [cited 2025 Dec 20]. Available from: https://www. who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds
3. 3.Spinelli G, Brogi E, Sidoti A, Pagnucci N, Forfori F. Assessment of the knowledge level and experience of healthcare personnel concerning CPR and early defibrillation: an internal survey. BMC cardiovascular disorders.2021 Dec;21:1-8.https://doi. org/10.1186/s12872-021-02009-2. doi:10.1186/s12872-021-02009-2
4. 4.Jarrah S, Judeh M, AbuRuz ME. Evaluation of public awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards basic life support: a cross-sectional study. BMC Emerg Med. 2018 Oct 29;18(1):37.doi: 10.1186/s12873-018- 0190-5. PMID: 30373529; PMCID: PMC6206630. doi:10.1186/s12873-018-
5. 5.Schnaubelt S, Krammel M. PULS– Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences,Vol.14, Issue3, July-2026,Muharram-1448 27 Knowledge,attitudes,and awareness of cardiopulmonaryresuscitationamongmedicalstudentsinRiyadh,SaudiArabia Austrian Cardiac Arrest Awareness Association: an overview of a multitiered and multi-facetted regional initiative to save lives. Resuscitation Plus. 2023 Sep 1;15:100453. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100453. doi:10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100453
6. 6.Owaid Alsharari, A., Alduraywish, A., AliAl-Zarea,E.,IbrahimSalmon,N.,& Ali Sheikh,M.S.(2018).Current Status of Knowledge about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation among the University Students in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia. Cardiology research and practice, 2018, 3687472. https://doi. org/10.1155/2018/3687472. doi:10.1155/2018/3687472
7. 7.McCoy MA, Schultz AM. Exploring Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival: Proceedings of a Workshop. National Academies Press; 2016.DOI: 10.17226/23695. doi:10.17226/23695
8. 8.Dinberu MT,Yemane DH.Assessment of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Knowledge Among Physicians in the Pediatrics Department of an Urban Tertiary Referral Hospital in Ethiopia: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Emergency Medicine International. 2024;2024(1):8815197. https://doi. org/10.1155/2024/881519 doi:10.1155/2024/881519
9. 9.Machino H, Irie J, Hiraki K, Ukaji Y, Sawaya S, Nomura O, Hanada H. Japanese medical students’ awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Acute Medicine & Surgery. 2022Jan;9(1):e745.https://doi. org/10.1002/ams2.745. 10.Alshammari AN,Alnasyan SS,Alharbi AS, Algarni HS, Abuidrees MA, Alzahrani RS, Alsaadi SS, Almutairi SM, Alzahrani KT. Knowledge and attitude toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Medical Science. 2023;27(135):1-1. DOI: 10.54905/ disssi/v27i135/e217ms3003 doi:10.1002/ams2.745
10. 10.Almutairi AH, Alhassan SA, Alsuwayyid RY,Alaskar AA,Almutairi FS, Alsaid AF, Alharbi YA, Almazrou MA,AlotaibiKF,AlharbiYA,Almazrou Sr MA. Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding basic life support among the general population in the Al-Majma’ah Region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2023 Nov10;15(11). https:// doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48613 doi:10.7759/cureus.48613