Access to EMS Services and Training, Knowledge, and Perceptions Related to First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Skills Among College Students.

摘要

This study included two purposes. The first purpose of this study was to compare undergraduate students' knowledge and perceptions related to first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to their level of first aid and CPR training. The second purpose of this study was to compare the students' perceptions of access to emergency medical services (EMS) by the geographic location of their hometown. A quantitative survey was distributed to students enrolled in three HLTH 101: Health and Environment classes in Spring, 2013. The survey included questions related to the participants' demographic characteristics, perceptions of the time needed for EMS services to arrive in their hometown, first aid and CPR knowledge, and perceptions related to first aid and CPR. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha reliability, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Chi-square were used to analyze the data. Participants who were currently certified in first aid agreed significantly more that CPR and first aid training are worth of their time than participants who have been trained and participants who have never been trained. Participants who were currently certified in first aid reported significantly less concerns than those who have never been trained in first aid with respect to their perceptions of access to first aid and CPR training classes. Participants who are currently certified in CPR agreed significantly more that training in first aid and CPR is worth their time than participants who have been certified and have never been trained. Participants who were currently trained in CPR showed significantly more willingness to perform first aid and CPR to family member, someone they know, and even strangers, compared to those who have been certified and never been trained in CPR. Also, those currently certified in CPR reported significantly less concerns than those who have never been trained in CPR with respect to their perceptions of access to first aid and CPR training classes. Participants who lived in the urban area reported significantly shorter time for EMS services to arrive than those who lived in a rural area. Further research related to individuals' knowledge and perceptions related to first aid and CPR is recommended. Additionally, it is recommended that all persons, especially those who live in rural areas, receive and retain certification related to first aid and CPR.