An analysis of freshmen's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the influencing factors at a university in Wuhu City: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the current status of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among freshmen at a college in Wuhu City. It also sought to identify the factors that influence these aspects and provide insights for enhancing CPR KAP among students.

Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select 1,550 college students from a university in Wuhu, Anhui Province, in 2024. A comprehensive general information questionnaire was developed following a review of databases, such as China Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed. The CPR KAP scale, along with the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), were utilized for the web-based survey conducted through Questionnaire Star. Descriptive and quantitative methods were employed for statistical analysis.

Results: Out of the 1,600 questionnaires collected, 50 responses were deemed invalid and subsequently excluded, resulting in 1,550 valid questionnaires and a validity rate of 96.7%. Consequently, the study included 1,550 participants, comprising 459 men and 1,091 women. The overall CPR KAP score for freshmen was 62.55 ± 13.74, with component scores for KAP being 31.17 ± 9.26, 24.56 ± 4.97, and 6.83 ± 5.51, respectively. Comparisons of scores across variables, such as gender, age, domicile location, self-perceived health status, parental education levels, first-aid training experience, presence of medical professionals in the family, experience with emergencies such as cardiac arrest, CPR training in previous curricula, and family health status, revealed statistically significant differences ( < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between CPR KAP scores and both eHEALS ( = 0.358) and General Self-Efficacy Scale scores ( = 0.303), with both correlations being highly significant ( < 0.001). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis identified eHEALS, first-aid training experience, inclusion of CPR training in the curriculum, gender, general self-efficacy, age, and domicile location as the primary factors influencing CPR KAP scores among freshmen.

Conclusion: To enhance freshmen's CPR KAP, future interventions should prioritize improving their general self-efficacy and eHEALS. Evidence suggests that strengthening self-efficacy can significantly enhance students' confidence in performing CPR during emergencies. Furthermore, fostering eHEALS equips freshmen with the skills to comprehend and utilize health-related information effectively, which, in turn, promotes more positive attitudes and behaviors toward CPR adoption and practice. By focusing on these key areas, educational strategies can be developed to strengthen CPR preparedness among freshmen, ensuring that they are better equipped to respond in life-threatening situations.