Barriers and Willingness to Undertake Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Reported by Medical Students Dependent on Their Place of Residence-A Single-Center Study.

Background: Bystander-administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. However, only roughly 58% of bystanders would provide CPR, with wide variations across different regions. Identifying each factor affecting the barrier or readiness to perform resuscitation is a significant challenge for researchers. This study aimed to evaluate the obstacles preventing first-year medical students from initiating CPR, focusing on the size of domestic residential environments and the time and methodology of practical training.

Methods: The original online questionnaire surveyed first-year medical students at the Medical University of Łódź from February 1 to March 2, 2024. The questionnaire development involved a literature review, expert evaluation, and pilot testing. Participation was voluntary and anonymous, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using PQStat software, employing descriptive statistics.

Results: The study revealed that 271 medical students reported a similar median of barriers regardless of the place of residence (median (Me) = 5, interquartile range (IQR) 2-6.25 vs. Me = 4, IQR 3-6 vs. Me = 4, IQR 3-6, p = 0.620). Out of 18 analyzed barriers, the only significant difference was found for crowded places. Medical students living in cities most frequently reported a willingness to perform CPR with rescue breaths for all victims. Those who grew up in towns <100,000 residents were less willing to start CPR if an unknown adult were the victim (rural area: 39.2% vs. town: 17.6% vs. city: 45.1%, p < 0.01). The number of reported barriers was similar regardless of training type and the time since training; however, the nature of these barriers varied after a year passed.

Conclusions: Respondents across various locations reported similar number and types of barriers to performing CPR, including the most commonly declared fear of harm, uncertainty about recognizing cardiac arrest, and concerns about disease transmission. Although differences connected to the type of victims were observed, its low or moderate practical significance needs more comprehensive research on the impact of the size of the place of residence on the willingness to perform resuscitation and the related barriers.