Project "week of Resuscitation": Public relations work and education programmes improve the people's knowledge abou Projekt "woche der Wiederbelebung": Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Schulungsmaßnahmen verbessern das Wissen zur Wiederbelebung in der Bevölkerung

Brinkrolf P., Bohn A., Lukas R., Heyse M., Van Aken H., Hahnenkamp K.

Abstract

Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by a bystander before the arrival of the emergency services is regarded as a positive influencing factor to the probability of surviving cardiac arrest. To increase the low rate of bystander-CPR in Germany, the so-called "Week of Resuscitation" is organized since 2013. We conducted a prospective survey to determine the campaign's influence on public knowledge and self-confidence to perform a CPR. Using computer-assisted telephone interviewing in two survey waves before and after the campaign in 2013, we questioned 2004 citizens of Muenster. The questionnaire covered 66 items in the fields of "knowledge to perform lay- CPR", "self-confidence", "experience", "use of educational resources" and "socioeconomic data". A significantly higher level of knowledge to carry out bystander-CPR was found after the "Week of Resuscitation" ("postgroup") than before ("pre-group"): When asked about the accurate action in case of cardiac arrest, 58.4% of interviewees in the pre-group, but 68.7% in the postgroup named "thoracic compressions". In the pre-group, 10.1% of participants chose the correct frequency of thoracic compressions and 53.3% the correct depth. In the post-group, correct answers to these questions were given by 22.7% and 63.3%, respectively. Not only the interviewees' knowledge, but also their self-confidence and willingness to perform CPR increased significantly. These results show a low level of knowledge of guideline-accordant CPR. Likewise, we could demonstrate a significant impact of the action week on both, the knowledge and the self-confidence, in Muenster's population of about 300, 000 inhabitants. They should encourage undertaking further efforts in promoting bystander-CPR.