Knowledge Level of Healthcare Professionals on Basic and Advanced Life Support in Children

Aim: In this study, in province in XXX of Turkey where child population is high, it was aimed to determine the level of knowledge in nurses, emergency medicine technicians and paramedics who is dealing with pediatric patients according to the basic and advanced life support guide in children.
Methods: The study was conducted between July-August 2018, with 602 volunteer healthcare professionals. According to the American Heart Association 2015 guideline, a questionnaire including questions about basic and advanced life support in children, as well as questioning demographic data, was applied. Statistical comparisons were made between the groups.
Results: iMale percentage were 62% of 602 professionals. The average age of them was 28.4 years (min-max: 18-50 years). The basic and advanced knowledge scores of the nurses working in the service were lower than the emergency medical technician and paramedics. Those who work in pediatric emergency departments and child intensive care units, with 5-8 years of experience, and paramedics within professional groups; advanced life support scores, total knowledge scores were high. The basic life support knowledge scores, total knowledge scores of those with certification were good, and the advanced life support knowledge score was inadequate.
Conclusion: The basic and advanced life support knowledge scores of the professionals were moderate, the total knowledge scores of the nurses working in pediatric services were low. While basic life support knowledge scores of paramedics and professionals working in emergency departments and child intensive care units were low, advanced life support knowledge scores were high.