An analysis of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation among freshmen and the factors influencing them at a university in Wuhu City: a cross-sectional study

Zhengxia Yang¹Yan Wang²Aoqi Dong¹Xin Yang¹Liqun Zhu²Shaoyong Ma³Yingying Wang^1*

• ¹First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
• ²Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
• ³Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the current status of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among freshmen at a college in Wuhu City, identifying factors that influence these aspects and providing insights for enhancing CPR KAP among students.Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select 1,550 college students from a university in Wuhu, Anhui Province, in 2024. A comprehensive general information questionnaire was developed following a review of databases such as China Knowledge and PubMed. The CPR KAP Scale, along with the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the eHEALS, were utilized for the web-based survey conducted through Questionnaire Star. Descriptive and quantitative analyses were used for statistical analysis.Results: Out of the 1,600 questionnaires collected, 50 responses were deemed invalid and subsequently excluded, resulting in 1,550 valid questionnaires and a validity rate of 96.7%. Consequently, the study included 1,550 participants, comprising 459 males and 1,091 females. The overall CPR KAP score for freshmen was 62.55±13.74, with component scores for KAP being 31.17±9.26, 24.56±4.97, and 6.83±5.51, respectively. Comparisons of scores across variables, such as gender, age, domicile location, self-perceived health status, parental education levels, first-aid training experience, presence of medical professionals in the family, experience with emergencies like cardiac arrest, CPR training in previous curricula, and family health status, revealed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between CPR KAP scores and both eHEALS (r = 0.358) and general self-efficacy scores (r = 0.303), with both correlations being highly significant (P < 0.001). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis identified eHEALS, first-aid training experience, inclusion of CPR training in the curriculum, gender, general self-efficacy, age, and domicile location as the primary factors influencing CPR KAP scores among freshmen.Conclusion: To enhance freshmen's CPR KAP, future interventions should prioritize improving their general self-efficacy and eHEALS. Evidence suggests that strengthening self-efficacy can significantly enhance students' confidence in performing CPR during emergencies. Furthermore, fostering eHEALS equips freshmen with the skills to comprehend and utilize health-related information effectively, which in turn fosters more positive attitudes and behaviors toward CPR adoption and practice.