Clinical Staff Responsiveness to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Basic Life Support Practices in the Winneba Municipal Hospital, Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30442/ahr.1104-09-307Keywords:
Basic Life Support, Cardiac arrest, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Defibrillators, Emergency Cardiac CareAbstract
Background: CPR is essential for survival after a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. However, many health workers in Ghana are still not adequately trained or equipped. This gap frequently contributes to delayed or absence of CPR interventions, which in turn contributes to mortality.
Objective: To assess clinical staff responsiveness to CPR and Basic Life Support Practices in the Winneba Municipal Hospital, Ghana.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design and utilised a sequential explanatory mixed-methods strategy. It involved surveying all eligible in-patient clinical staff quantitatively, while intentionally selecting five unit heads for deeper qualitative data collection.
Results: The study revealed that 87.2% of clinical staff had recently participated in CPR and 82.1% had taken an active role, but only 3.9% held valid BLS certification. CPR outcomes were poor, with an 88.5% fatality rate. Only 10% of professionals demonstrated proficiency in defibrillation. Multivariate analysis confirmed that formal BLS training (OR = 1.448, p = 0.016) and hands-on practice (OR = 1.104, p = 0.038) significantly enhanced the likelihood of an effective CPR response. In contrast, unit assignment (OR = 0.342, p = 0.003) reduced the likelihood of success.
Conclusions: While clinical staff may show strong commitment to CPR and possess strong hands-only CPR skills, only a few hold formal BLS certification, and significant gaps remain in equipment use, particularly with defibrillators. Formal training and frequent practice may significantly improve outcomes, but disparities in unit placement, limited equipment, and lack of advanced training contribute to high CPR mortality.
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