Shorter training intervals increase high school students’ awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a questionnaire study

OBJECTIVE: To explore training-related independent factors affecting the awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in senior high school students in Shanghai. METHODS: Questionnaires measuring CPR-related knowledge were distributed to 430 senior high school students in Shanghai. RESULTS: The overall CPR qualification rate was 7.7%. Qualification rate increased significantly with training frequency (5.5% vs. 9.3% vs. 20%), personal willingness to perform CPR (3.7% vs. 9.5%) and smaller training intervals (12.8% vs. 5.3% vs. 1.8%). After adjustment, training interval <6 months (odds ratio [OR] 6.078, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.367–27.014) remained an independent predictor of qualifying rate. In unqualified students, willingness to implement CPR (72.4% vs. 66.2% vs. 54.8%) and training interval <6 months (23.8% vs. 15.8% vs. 6.8%) decreased as school grade increased. Worries about CPR not meeting professional standards, especially in females (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.065–2.776), and legal responsibility for failed CPR were the main reasons for reduced willingness to implement CPR. CONCLUSION: The CPR qualifying rate of senior high school students in Shanghai is low. It could be improved by reducing training intervals to consolidate learning. It may also be necessary to promote laws about first aid to senior high school students.