Survey of public secondary school teachers' attitudes toward instruction in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools

Objectives: To study the beliefs and attitudes of public secondary school teachers in Lugo, Spain, regarding the teaching of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in schools. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 2 public middle schools in Lugo. The questionnaire contained 12 closed-answer items preceded by an explanation of sudden death, early basic CPR, and early defibrillation. Results: Of 120 questionnaires sent, 56 (46.6%) were completed and returned. Eleven teachers (19.6%) had attended a basic CPR course. Twenty-three (41.1%) were unaware of the availability of semiautomatic external defibrillators. Fifty-two (92.95%) considered it would be good for their students to take a basic CPR course and learn to use a semiautomatic external defibrillator. According to 76.8%, it would be good to provide instruction in basic CPR during the course of obligatory secondary school education; 57.2% thought CPR should be taught in the third year of secondary school or higher. Forty-eight (85.7%) expressed interest in taking a basic CPR course themselves, and 46 (82.1%) believed such a course would best be taught by health care professionals. Twenty-two teachers (39.3%) said they would be willing to teach the subject if they received prior training. Conclusions: Most teachers consider it useful to include basic CPR in the secondary school curriculum and they are interested in receiving training themselves. Although most prefer that such a course be taught by health care professionals, half of those interested would be willing to serve as instructors after receiving training. [Emergencias 2008;20:251-255]