The level of knowledge of pediatricians on defibrillation

Öz

Objective: Defibrillation is part of the life-saving chain. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of pediatricians on defibrillation procedures.

Material and Methods: The questionnaire was administered to 308 pediatricians. The specialists were grouped according to their experience as under 5 years, 5-10 years and over 10 years while the research assistants were classified as 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year and 4th year. Subjects with 0-2 correct answers were classified as less knowledgeable, 3-5 as moderately knowledgeable and 6-8 as knowledgeable.

Results: A small percentage of the physicians had received training on the defibrillation procedure. The self-sufficiency rate for the use of the defibrillator device was around 50% in those who received training and around 20% among all physicians. The mean number of correct answers given to the 8 questions used to evaluate the level of knowledge was 4.36±1.77. Approximately half of the subjects (51%) had a moderate level of knowledge. The level of knowledge of the pediatricians who examined patients, had been trained on defibrillator use and used one themselves was significantly higher. The number of correct answers increased as the subject's self-assessment of his/her adequacy increased. There was a significant difference between the level of knowledge of specialists with less than and over 10 years of experience.

Conclusion: We found that pediatricians participating in our study did not have adequate defibrillation knowledge. We believe that updating defibrillator device training and increasing the relevant self-confidence before the level of knowledge decreases is very important.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• cardiac arrest,cardiopulmonary resuscitation,defibrillation,level of knowledge,pediatrician

Kaynakça

1. 1. Akahane M, Tanabe S, Ogawa T, Koike S, Horiguchi H, Yasunaga H, et al. Characteristics and outcomes of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by scholastic age category. Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. 2013;14(2):130-6.
2. 2. Gill C, Kissoon N. Pediatric Life Support Update: 2015 American Heart Association Highlights. Pediatric emergency care. 2017;33(8):585-93.
3. 3. de Caen AR, Maconochie IK, Aickin R, Atkins DL, Biarent D, Guerguerian AM, et al. Part 6: Pediatric Basic Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support: 2015 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. Circulation. 2015;132(16 Suppl 1):S177-203.
4. 4. Kendirli T, Erkek N, Koroglu T, Yldzdas D, Bayrakc B, Guzel A, et al. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Children With In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest: Multicenter Study From Turkey. Pediatric emergency care. 2015;31(11):748-52.
5. 5. Johnson MA, Grahan BJ, Haukoos JS, McNally B, Campbell R, Sasson C, et al. Demographics, bystander CPR, and AED use in out-of-hospital pediatric arrests. Resuscitation. 2014;85(7):920-6.
6. 6. Haskell SE, Kenney MA, Patel S, Sanddal TL, Altenhofen KL, Sanddal ND, et al. Awareness of guidelines for use of automated external defibrillators in children within emergency medical services. Resuscitation. 2008;76(3):354-9.
7. 7. Mercier E, Laroche E, Beck B, Le Sage N, Cameron PA, Emond M, et al. Defibrillation energy dose during pediatric cardiac arrest: Systematic review of human and animal model studies. Resuscitation. 2019;139:241-52.
8. 8. Fraser KN, Kou MM, Howell JM, Fullerton KT, Sturek C. Improper defibrillator pad usage by emergency medical care providers for children: an opportunity for reeducation. The American journal of emergency medicine. 2014;32(9):953-7.

9. 9. Ammirati C, Gignon M, Amsallem C, Mercieca JM, Jarry G, Douay B, et al. Use of an automated external defibrillator: a prospective observational study of first-year medical students. Resuscitation. 2011;82(2):195-8.
10. 10. Brooks B, Chan S, Lander P, Adamson R, Hodgetts GA, Deakin CD. Public knowledge and confidence in the use of public access defibrillation. Heart. 2015;101(12):967-71.
11. 11. Kozlowski D, Klosiewicz T, Kowalczyk A, Kowalczyk AK, Kozluk E, Dudziak M, et al. The knowledge of public access to defibrillation in selected cities in Poland. Arch Med Sci. 2013;9(1):27-33.
12. 12. Ballesteros-Pena S, Fernandez-Aedo I, Perez-Urdiales I, Garcia-Azpiazu Z, Unanue-Arza S. Knowledge and attitudes of citizens in the Basque Country (Spain) towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillators. Medicina intensiva. 2016;40(2):75-83.
13. 13. Berdowski J, Berg RA, Tijssen JG, Koster RW. Global incidences of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and survival rates: Systematic review of 67 prospective studies. Resuscitation. 2010;81(11):1479-87.
14. 14. Kurt F, Kendirli T, Gunduz RC, Kesici S, Akca H, Sahin S, et al. Outcome of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest in children: A multicenter cohort study. The Turkish journal of pediatrics. 2018;60(5):488-96.
15. 15. Kallestedt ML, Rosenblad A, Leppert J, Herlitz J, Enlund M. Hospital employees' theoretical knowledge on what to do in an in-hospital cardiac arrest. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2010;18:43.
16. 16. Chojnacki P, Ilieva R, Kolodziej A, Krolikowska A, Lipka J, Ruta J. Knowledge of BLS and AED resuscitation algorithm amongst medical students--preliminary results. Anestezjol Intens Ter. 2011;43(1):29-32.
17. 17. Christ M, van Bracht M, Prull MW, Trappe HJ. Influences of medical education on first aid and AED knowledge among laypersons. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2012;137(44):2251-5.
18. 18. Kopacek KB, Dopp AL, Dopp JM, Vardeny O, Sims JJ. Pharmacy students' retention of knowledge and skills following training in automated external defibrillator use. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010;74(6):109.
19. 19. Beckers SK, Fries M, Bickenbach J, Skorning MH, Derwall M, Kuhlen R, et al. Retention of skills in medical students following minimal theoretical instructions on semi and fully automated external defibrillators. Resuscitation. 2007;72(3):444-50.
20. 20. Castillo J, Gallart A, Rodriguez E, Gomar C. Basic life support and external defibrillation competences after instruction and at 6months comparing face-to-face and blended training. Randomised trial. Nurse education today. 2018;65:232-8.