IMPACT OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE ON BASIC LIFE SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Abstract

Objective:

This present study intends the assessment that the clinical experience has on the knowledge and practice associated with the Basic Life Support (BLS) by healthcare providers. It dwells on measuring the relationship between clinical experience and BLS competency with a particular accent on the role played by the years of experience in enhancing the performance of healthcare workers in BLS situations.

Study Design: The study was a cross-sectional one undertaken in a tertiary care hospital located in Lahore, Pakistan, and it addressed healthcare providers composed of doctors, nurses, and paramedics.

Methods: The study included 150 healthcare providers that have been studied using a survey-based method. The data were obtained with the help of a qualified BLS knowledge and skills assessment questionnaire that was completed face-to-face. The analysis of the data complied by the difference between the BLS competency scores and clinical experience applying such statistical tools as correlation analysis and t-tests.

Results: It was revealed in the study that clinical experience significantly positively correlated to BLS competency. Experienced healthcare professionals conducted through over five years of clinical experience showed the greater BLS knowledge and skill execution. On average, the BLS competency level that was close to 85 percent among the participants who had more than five years of experience was down to 60 percent among the less experienced participants.

Conclusion’s knowledge and practice are well boosted through clinical experience. Whether it is newer staff or older, continuous BLS training program should be considered in healthcare institutions in order to maintain good levels of competency among all paper-carriers of healthcare. Future studies will examine how long-term periodic refresher training has on competency of BLS.

Keywords:
Basic Life Support, Clinical Experience, Healthcare Providers, BLS Knowledge, Medical Competency, Healthcare Training