Willingness and Predictors of Bystander CPR Intervention in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Freshmen Enrolled in a Japanese University

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-11, Vol.19 (23), p.15770
• Main Authors: Mori, Yukihiro, Iio, Yoko, Aoyama, Yuka, Kozai, Hana, Tanaka, Mamoru, Aoike, Makoto, Kawamura, Hatsumi, Seguchi, Manato, Tsurudome, Masato, Ito, Morihiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - education; College students; Confidence; Consciousness; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 vaccines; CPR; Cross-Sectional Studies; East Asian People; Emergency services; Epidemics; Humans; Immunization; Infections; Intervention; Knowledge; Medical prognosis; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Pandemics; Prognosis; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Respiration; Science; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Skills; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Variables
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315770

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has decreased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) intervention rates. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the willingness of university freshmen to provide BCPR during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predictors thereof. A cross-sectional survey of 2789 newly enrolled university students was conducted after the end of the sixth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan; predictors of willingness to provide BCPR were assessed by regression analysis. Of the 2534 participants 1525 (60.2%) were willing to intervene and provide BCPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hesitancy due to the anxiety that CPR intervention might result in poor prognosis was a negative predictor of willingness. In contrast, anxiety about the possibility of infection during CPR intervention did not show a negative impact. On the other hand, interest in CPR and willingness to participate in a course, confidence in CPR skills, awareness of automated external defibrillation, and knowledge of CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic, were also positive predictors. This study suggests that the barrier to willingness to intervene with BCPR during a COVID-19 pandemic is not fear of infection, but rather hesitation due to the possibility of poor prognosis from the intervention. The significance of conducting this study during the COVID-19 epidemic is great, and there is an urgent need for measures to overcome hesitation regarding BCPR.