A survey of the knowledge of cardiopulmonary rescucitation and the impact of training on nurses at the University of Benin teaching hospital, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Early Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maintains cardiac output and tissue oxygenation following cardiac arrest and it prevents brain death. Nurses are usually the first set of hospital staff to arrive at the scene of a cardiopulmonary arrest occurring in the ward or intensive care unit and a good knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is usually essential for patient's survival.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the impact of training on clinical nurses.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a period of twelve consecutive weeks for clinical nurses during their academic session. Self-completed questionnaire were administered to 366 nursing staff. A pre-test was conducted before the lecture and this was followed by a film show, practical demonstration and practice on teaching aids with skill guide. A post- test was then conducted afterwards. The results were analyzed using Graphpad Instat 3.

RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty six nurses participated in the study. Twenty one (5.7%) participants were males and three hundred and forty five (94.3%) were females. The age range was between 24 and 60 years. The mean post- test score (9.27) was higher than the mean pre-test score (7.81) and the difference was statistically significant with p<0.0001.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that constant training improves the knowledge of CPR , which will result in the reduction of mortality in patients who suffer cardiac arrest.