Background: Basic life support (BLS) is pivotal for the survival of patients in cardiac arrest outside the hospital. Knowledge about BLS in compulsory schools’ students practically reflects the curriculum in teaching BLS.

Objective: To investigate the level of basic knowledge on BLS among pre-university students as well as to determine the characteristics of prior BLS training received.

Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was done in pre-university students attending the University orientation in 2017. An online-access questionnaire was distributed. One thousand fifty-one questionnaires were completed.

Results: Most respondents had previous BLS training (90%), with 67% receiving BLS training in their basic core curricular education. A mean BLS knowledge score of 6.4 from 14 was revealed. Less than half (46.1%) passed the minimal passing level (MPL). Among BLS course characteristics, only one type of extracurricular training, One District One Doctor camp (ODOD), showed an association with passing the MPL of BLS assessments (odds ratio of pass MPL 10.06; 95% CI 1.18 to 85.53, p=0.035).

Conclusion: Although most of the students had previous BLS training as a part of their basic core curricular education, it did not affect their success in passing the BLS assessments.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Public health, Nonprofessional education

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.04.11918

Received 22 September 2020 | Revised 20 November 2020 | Accepted 3 December 2020