Effect of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on the knowledge and attitudes of professional football players and coaches.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the change in attitudes and knowledge about basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation in football professionals following a training intervention and to examine its correlation with sociodemographic variables.

Method: The study consists of two phases. The first phase involves an observational cross-sectional study to assess the level of attitude and knowledge in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The second phase includes an educational intervention consisting of a training and practical session on basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with a pre-post single-group study. The questionnaire was completed by football professionals from the Spanish first division and their coaches, with N = 206 in the first phase and N = 70, 30 days after the training intervention in the second phase. A possible limitation is that the final sample size is smaller than the initial one; however, it still exceeds the estimated minimum. A two-phase statistical analysis was conducted: a cross-sectional analysis using nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman) assessed baseline attitude and knowledge in relation to sociodemographic variables, followed by a pre-post intervention analysis using parametric (t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson) or nonparametric tests depending on data distribution to evaluate intra- and inter-group changes. Normality was tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test and appropriate tests were applied accordingly.

Results: There is a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the average attitude of participants between before (4.25 ± 0.39) and after (4.40 ± 0.41) the intervention. Knowledge also shows a significant increase (p < 0.001) between before (5.66 ± 1.92) and after (7.60 ± 1.84) the intervention. There is no significant correlation with age, gender, professional category, or levels of knowledge and attitudes.

Conclusions: The basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation training intervention has proven beneficial, regardless of gender, educational level, or category studied (players/coaches).