Effect of Basic Life Support Training on Knowledge, Skills and Perceived Control of Immediate Relatives of Patients Diagnosed with Ischaemic Heart Disease Admitted in Selected Hospitals of Pune City

Background: The family members or immediate relatives of high risk population (patients with acute Coronary Syndrome or Ischaemic Heart Disease) benefit from learning Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques. The immediate relatives who are there with the patient can help the patient faster than the EMS personnel who will reach later at the scene to help the patient. The American Heart Association states that out of every 4 persons in a given population at least one should be acquainted with BLS techniques.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Basic Life Support training on knowledge, skills and perceived control of immediate relatives of IHD patients.

Design: This study uses pre-experimental one group pretest and post test design.

Research setting: The study was conducted in selected hospitals of Pune city.

Sample: The sample consisted of 40 immediate relatives of the patients diagnosed with Ischaemic Heart Disease admitted in selected hospitals of Pune city.

Methods: Pre-test questionnaire and Perceived Control Scale was administered in the presence of investigator to avoid interaction between samples and after 20 minutes the completed questionnaire was taken back. Then the samples were asked to demonstrate the skills in performing Basic Life Support. The investigator taught them definition of Heart Attack, recognition of Heart Attack and demonstrated them the steps in performing Basic Life Support on manikin. After training, the samples were given an opportunity to clear the doubts and practice the procedure of Basic Life Support. Then post-test questionnaire and perceived control scale was administered to them and after 20 minutes it was taken back. Then the samples were asked to redemonstrate the steps of Basic Life Support and the investigator observed their skills. Results: There was significant increase in knowledge, skills and perceived control of immediate relatives of patients diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease. The findings show that knowledge, skills and perceived control were highly correlated at 0.05 level of significance. It also shows that knowledge, skills and perceived control were not associated with selected background variables.

Conclusion: There was an increase in knowledge, skills and perceived control after Basic Life Support training. The knowledge, skills and perceived control are highly correlated with each other and they were not at all associated with selected background variables.