The competency of nurses in basic life support at district hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.

IF 1.2 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

South African Family Practice Pub Date : 2025-05-29 DOI:10.4102/safp.v67i1.6056

George R Mahembe, Robert Mash

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a leading cause of mortality, and survival rates are low; however, basic life support (BLS) can improve these rates. Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention, recognition, and response to CA, making BLS competency essential. Little is known about BLS competency among nurses in district hospitals. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nurses regarding BLS in district hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods: A multi-centre, observational cross-sectional study was conducted. An existing self-administered questionnaire was adapted and validated. Stratified quota sampling selected 243 nurses. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Results: Only 3.0% of nurses scored above 80% on the knowledge test, while 15.9% scored that high on the skills test. Professional nurses, those with a bachelor's degree, and nurses with any form of BLS training had significantly higher competency scores (p 0.001). Basic life support certification rates were low at 50.8%, and certificates had expired in 52.5% of nurses. Furthermore, neither greater work experience (r = 0.025, p = 0.702) nor more frequent BLS performance (p = 0.083) was associated with higher competency scores.

Conclusion: Nurses working in district hospitals demonstrated positive attitudes, but they had insufficient knowledge and poor BLS skills.Contribution: Nurses with higher-level qualifications and prior training in BLS achieved better competency scores. Attention should be directed towards CA registries, quality improvement systems, decentralised training at scale, performance management systems and an improved nurse staffing mix.

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南非开普敦地区医院基本生命支持护士的能力。

背景：心脏骤停（CA）是死亡的主要原因，生存率低；然而，基本生命支持（BLS）可以提高这些比率。护士在预防、识别和应对CA方面发挥着至关重要的作用，这使得BLS能力至关重要。对地区医院护士的劳工统计局能力了解甚少。本研究旨在评估南非开普敦地区医院护士对劳工统计局的知识、技能和态度。方法：采用多中心、观察性横断面研究。对现有的自我管理问卷进行了调整和验证。分层定额抽样选取护士243名。使用社会科学统计软件包对数据进行了分析。结果：仅有3.0%的护士在知识测试中得分在80%以上，15.9%的护士在技能测试中得分在80%以上。专业护士、拥有学士学位的护士和接受过任何形式的劳工统计局培训的护士的能力得分显著更高（p 0.001）。基本生命支持合格率低，为50.8%，52.5%的护士证书过期。此外，更丰富的工作经验（r = 0.025, p = 0.702）和更频繁的BLS表现（p = 0.083）与更高的能力得分无关。结论：区医院护士工作态度积极，但知识不足，BLS技能较差。贡献：具有较高水平资格和先前BLS培训的护士获得更高的能力得分。应注意CA登记、质量改进系统、大规模分散培训、绩效管理系统和改进护士人员配置组合。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

South African Family Practice MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

20.00%

发文量

审稿时长

25 weeks

期刊介绍： South African Family Practice (SAFP) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which strives to provide primary care physicians and researchers with a broad range of scholarly work in the disciplines of Family Medicine, Primary Health Care, Rural Medicine, District Health and other related fields. SAFP publishes original research, clinical reviews, and pertinent commentary that advance the knowledge base of these disciplines. The content of SAFP is designed to reflect and support further development of the broad basis of these disciplines through original research and critical review of evidence in important clinical areas; as well as to provide practitioners with continuing professional development material.