Basic life support and advanced cardiac life support knowledge and skills among medical interns before and after a training workshop

Introduction
Effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation can increase the survival of patients with cardiopulmonary arrest.

Aim of the research
To investigate the basic life support and advanced cardiac life support knowledge and skills of medical interns at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences before and after a training workshop.

Material and methods
This study was conducted in 2017–2018 at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences before and after a training workshop. Data were collected using a questionnaire with 18 items including 11 basic knowledge and seven advanced knowledge items, which assessed the students’ knowledge of the latest guidelines by the American Heart Association on cardiovascular resuscitation, before and after a training workshop.

Results
A total of 55 students took part in the study. The mean score in the basic skills part increased significantly from 9.16 to 17.75 (p < 0.001). In the advanced cardiac life support group, the interns’ score increased significantly from 8.88 ±4.66 before the workshop to 14.81 ±3.11 afterwards (p < 0.001), comprising a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
The knowledge and skills of the interns’ scores increased significantly after the workshop.