Resuscitation Guideline 2000: What is the level of Awareness and Knowledge in Practicing Anaesthestists?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was officially instituted in 1960. In 1992, the American Heart Association released the first set of resuscitation guidelines. Following a general consensus by experts drawn from various resuscitation councils worldwide, a new set of evidence based guidelines was released in August 2000. New guidelines were released in November 2005.

PURPOSE: To determine the level of awareness and knowledge of the 2000 ‘Resuscitation Guidelines\' on the management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among Nigerian Anaesthetists.

METHOD: This was an unannounced, cross-sectional assessment using anonymous self-administered questionnaires. A structured questionnaire based on the UK interpretation of the Resuscitation Guidelines 2000 was sent to 10 teaching hospitals in Nigeria that offer Anaesthesia residency training and the questionnaire was also administered at an annual Anaesthetists\' gathering. Level of awareness of the guidelines and current management of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was assessed.

RESULTS: 94 anaesthetists, 64 (68.1%) male; 30 (31.9%) female, from 13 hospitals in Nigeria responded (response rate 71.8%). Average age and post graduation years were 37.1+5.1 and 11.7+7.2 years respectively. 39.2%+17.2 was the average score obtained. 14.9% were aware of the resuscitation guidelines 2000 with consultants exhibiting greater awareness (p<0.001). Breath-compression ratio in adults and children for both single person and 2 person resuscitation was correctly answered by 10 (10.6%) and 12 (12.8%) respectively. The correct answers to the questions on number of compressions per minute, depth of compression and when to stop resuscitation were correctly answered by 16.0%, 38.3% and 74.5% of the anaesthetists respectively.

36 (38.3%) and 24 (25.5%) were able to answer all questions on management of defibrillation in adults and children. 1(1.1%) and 2(2.1%) of respondents answered all questions on management of choking in children and recommended airway devices respectively. No one answered correctly the question on persons in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation for one minute is mandatory before going for help.

CONCLUSION: The level of awareness and knowledge of ‘resuscitation guidelines 2000\' in practicing Nigerian Anaethestists in inadequate. There is need for structured training in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in our hospitals.


Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, guidelines 2000, anaesthestist, awareness, knowledge.

NQJHM Vol. 16 (1) 2005: pp. 25-29