Abstract Body: Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major cause of death globally, with especially high mortality in low-resource settings due to limited emergency preparedness. Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival, yet awareness and training remain low in Nigeria, especially among adolescents. Most CPR education targets healthcare professionals, leaving a gap in community readiness.
Objectives: To assess baseline CPR knowledge and evaluate the impact of an American Heart Association (AHA)-based CPR training program among secondary school students and healthcare workers in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Methods: In March–April 2025, a cross-sectional study involving 669 students from three high schools and 95 healthcare providers in Ikare-Akoko was conducted. Participants completed pre-training surveys, received AHA-guided didactic and hands-on CPR training using AHA-provided manikins, and completed post-training assessments using a 13-item questionnaire. Wilcoxon signed-rank, McNemar-Bowker tests, and linear regression were performed using SPSS v27.
Results: Pre-training, mean overall knowledge score was 4.48 (SD = 2.36), increasing to 10.41 (SD = 1.10) post-training (p < 0.001). Confidence rose from 2.85 (SD = 1.92) to 9.48 (SD = 1.25) (p < 0.001). Among students, knowledge improved from 4.07 (SD = 2.12) to 10.50 (SD = 1.01), and confidence from 2.41 (SD = 1.21) to 9.53 (SD = 1.21) (p < 0.001). Healthcare providers’ knowledge rose from 7.33 (SD = 1.99) to 9.75 (SD = 1.47), and confidence from 5.93 (SD = 2.93) to 9.12 (SD = 1.41) (p < 0.001). Correct hand placement identification rose from 30.1% to 95.8%; compression rate knowledge from 33.4% to 96.1%; and comfort with performing CPR from 2.5% to 80.2% (p < 0.001). Regression showed prior training (B = 0.660, p = 0.001) and student status predicted higher post-training scores.
Conclusions: This study highlights a major gap in CPR readiness, with 99.3% lacking prior training. AHA-based training significantly improved knowledge and confidence. Age did not affect outcomes, supporting early CPR education. Gender effects were minimal. This scalable program can empower students and providers as first responders and improve OHCA outcomes. Future research should assess long-term impact.