Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey

Introduction Emergency care begins in the community, who are often the first on the scene. Where emergency care systems are nascent or absent, bystanders represent the only prehospital emergency care that victims might receive. It is important to equip bystanders through life-saving skills training...

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Main Authors: Marcus Eng Hock Ong, Freddy Lippert, Lin Zhang, Willem Stassen, So Yeon Joyce Kong, Audrey L Blewer, Yeh Lai Chern, Andrew Fu Wah Ho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-01-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e090562.full
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author Marcus Eng Hock Ong
Freddy Lippert
Lin Zhang
Willem Stassen
So Yeon Joyce Kong
Audrey L Blewer
Yeh Lai Chern
Andrew Fu Wah Ho
author_facet Marcus Eng Hock Ong
Freddy Lippert
Lin Zhang
Willem Stassen
So Yeon Joyce Kong
Audrey L Blewer
Yeh Lai Chern
Andrew Fu Wah Ho
author_sort Marcus Eng Hock Ong
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Emergency care begins in the community, who are often the first on the scene. Where emergency care systems are nascent or absent, bystanders represent the only prehospital emergency care that victims might receive. It is important to equip bystanders through life-saving skills training (LST). The aim of this study was to describe access to LST for laypersons globally and to determine barriers or facilitators for access to LST globally.Methods A global cross-sectional, online survey was undertaken with stakeholders involved in LST programmes and policies through purposive, snowball sampling. The invitation for participation was distributed to local, regional and international emergency care and resuscitation organisations and their membership. Data were collected using a custom-designed survey, based on the literature and following pilot testing. Data were analysed descriptively and visualised according to countries and regions. Logistic regression was used to identify variables predictive of LST.Results A total of 302 responses from 67 countries were analysed. Majority of responses were from high- or upper-middle income countries (61.2%) compared with low- or lower-middle income countries (38.8%). All respondents from Europe reported reliable access to LST. Of respondents who reported no LST is delivered, the highest proportion of these represented the Eastern Mediterranean (18.2%), Africa (17.1%) and South America (16.9%). The most common barrier to accessing LST were cultural views surrounding LST (69.2%), while the most common facilitator was interpersonal relationships to encourage the uptake of LST (71.9%). Country level of income (adjusted OR (AOR) 4.31 (95% CI 1.62 to 11.45), p<01), urban location (AOR 10.57 (95% CI 3.32 to 33.66), p<0.001) and level of EMS development (OR 5.73 (95% CI 1.47 to 22.30), p=0.01) were predictive of access to LST.Conclusion This study highlights considerable inequity in LST access globally. Future work should seek to mitigate barriers and leverage facilitators through participatory and community-oriented approaches to LST.
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spelling doaj-art-74a61accec964f999ee7b319c6ec819a2025-01-30T10:50:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-01-0115110.1136/bmjopen-2024-090562Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional surveyMarcus Eng Hock Ong0Freddy Lippert1Lin Zhang2Willem Stassen3So Yeon Joyce Kong4Audrey L Blewer5Yeh Lai Chern6Andrew Fu Wah Ho7Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, SingaporeCopenhagen Emergency Medical Services, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaDivision of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaStrategic Research, Laerdal Medical, Stavanger, Rogaland, NorwayDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USADepartment of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, SingaporeDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, SingaporeIntroduction Emergency care begins in the community, who are often the first on the scene. Where emergency care systems are nascent or absent, bystanders represent the only prehospital emergency care that victims might receive. It is important to equip bystanders through life-saving skills training (LST). The aim of this study was to describe access to LST for laypersons globally and to determine barriers or facilitators for access to LST globally.Methods A global cross-sectional, online survey was undertaken with stakeholders involved in LST programmes and policies through purposive, snowball sampling. The invitation for participation was distributed to local, regional and international emergency care and resuscitation organisations and their membership. Data were collected using a custom-designed survey, based on the literature and following pilot testing. Data were analysed descriptively and visualised according to countries and regions. Logistic regression was used to identify variables predictive of LST.Results A total of 302 responses from 67 countries were analysed. Majority of responses were from high- or upper-middle income countries (61.2%) compared with low- or lower-middle income countries (38.8%). All respondents from Europe reported reliable access to LST. Of respondents who reported no LST is delivered, the highest proportion of these represented the Eastern Mediterranean (18.2%), Africa (17.1%) and South America (16.9%). The most common barrier to accessing LST were cultural views surrounding LST (69.2%), while the most common facilitator was interpersonal relationships to encourage the uptake of LST (71.9%). Country level of income (adjusted OR (AOR) 4.31 (95% CI 1.62 to 11.45), p<01), urban location (AOR 10.57 (95% CI 3.32 to 33.66), p<0.001) and level of EMS development (OR 5.73 (95% CI 1.47 to 22.30), p=0.01) were predictive of access to LST.Conclusion This study highlights considerable inequity in LST access globally. Future work should seek to mitigate barriers and leverage facilitators through participatory and community-oriented approaches to LST.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e090562.full
spellingShingle Marcus Eng Hock Ong
Freddy Lippert
Lin Zhang
Willem Stassen
So Yeon Joyce Kong
Audrey L Blewer
Yeh Lai Chern
Andrew Fu Wah Ho
Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
BMJ Open
title Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
title_full Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
title_fullStr Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
title_full_unstemmed Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
title_short Barriers and facilitators to global access to life-saving skills training: an international cross-sectional survey
title_sort barriers and facilitators to global access to life saving skills training an international cross sectional survey
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e090562.full
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