Effectiveness of Basic Life Support Training Program on Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy in Management of Drowning Among Adults Living in Coastal Areas of Mangaluru

Abstract

Introduction Drowning is a major, but often neglected, public health problem in India. About 97% of all deaths from drowning occur in low- and middle-income countries. Drowning is a preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early use of basic life support (BLS) by a rescuer on site is crucial for the survival of victims of drowning.

Aim This article aims to find out the effectiveness of BLS training program on knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy in the management of drowning.

Materials and Methods A preexperimental, one-group pretest, posttest study design was adopted to study 91 purposively selected subjects who met the selection criteria. The sample size was estimated using a research article by Joseph et al. The data were collected by using valid and reliable tools: 25-item knowledge questionnaire (r = 0.846), 15-item attitude scale (r = 0.867), and 12-item self-efficacy scale (r = 0.928). Ethical approval and informed consent obtained. After obtaining baseline data, pretest was conducted using the said tools and BLS training in the management of drowning was provided. Posttest assessment of knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy was done 7 days after intervention.

Results More than three-fourths (80.2%) had inadequate knowledge during pretest, whereas in posttest half (49.5%) had adequate level of knowledge, with mean and standard deviation of 11.18 ± 3.82 in pretest and 18.21 ± 3.08 in posttest. Regarding attitude, more than half (63.7%) had neutral attitude during pretest and three-fourths (73.6%) had positive attitude in posttest with mean and standard deviation of 57.38 ± 6.44 in pretest and 64.87 ± 5.10 in posttest. A poor level of self-efficacy was reported among 58.2% in pretest, whereas 59.3% had fair level of self-efficacy in posttest. Mean and standard deviation was found to be 33.48 ± 7.73 in pretest and 46.25 ± 4.35 in posttest. There was a significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores of knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy toward BLS at p < 0.05, indicating that BLS training is effective. The Karl Pearson correlation coefficient test showed a significant correlation between knowledge–attitude (r = 0.628, p < 0.001), knowledge–self-efficacy (r = 0.820, p < 0.001), and attitude–self efficacy (r = 0.616, p < 0.001).

Conclusion This study concluded that the BLS training program is effective on knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy in the management of drowning