Evaluation of Public Awareness, Knowledge and Attitudes towards Basic Life Support among Non-Medical, Adult population in Muscat City, Oman: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the level of public awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards BLS among non-medical adult Omanis in Muscat City, Oman and explored the association between knowledge and attitude and the socio-demographic characteristics. DESIGN: Cross sectional design was used. Convenience sampling method in Muscat city from February to March 2020. Setting: The study setting was based in Muscat City, Oman. Participants: 426 Adults, non-medical Omanis, able to read and write Arabic Language, were included between February and March 2020. METHODS: Adopted, validated, online Arabic questionnaire was used, including four parts of 37 questions on socio-demographic information, awareness, knowledge and attitude. The results were presented in tables with descriptions. FINDINGS: Majority of participants were in age groups, 28-37 years (50.0%) and 18-27 years (35.7%); were female (57.0%); married (58.5%), single (39.9%); had secondary (31.5%), diploma (27.2%), bachelors(32.4%) education levels; and worked in government (28.6%), private sector (25.4%). Significantly, large proportion of them (62.0%) were aware about BLS. However, knowledge total scores were not normally distributed (0.917, P<0.001), with minimum, maximum, median and mean knowledge total score of 0 out of 15, 13 out of 15, 3 out of 15, 3.6 respectively. Also, attitude total scores were not normally distributed (0.976, P<0.001), with minimum, maximum, median and mean attitude total scores of 30 out of 65, 65 out of 65, 55 out of 65, 54.5 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of non-medical adults toward Basic Life Support was substantial, whereas, knowledge level toward BLS was very low despite of its differences with respect to socio-demographic characteristics. In contrast, all participants had positive attitude toward BLS. Therefore, this study is advocating the need for mandatory training in Basic Life Support for all non-medics in the country as well as incorporating Basic Life Support teaching in school curriculum.