EVALUATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS AT A UNIVERSITY IN WESTERN PARANÁ ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOPULMONARY ARREST

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is a severe medical emergency characterized by the abrupt cessation of cardiac and respiratory activity, leading to interruption of blood flow and tissue oxygenation. Despite consolidated international guidelines, several studies have reported gaps in knowledge and execution of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including among medical students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the theoretical knowledge of medical students from a university in western Paraná, Brazil, regarding the management of CPA, with emphasis on basic and advanced life support protocols. This descriptive and quantitative study was conducted using a structured questionnaire applied to 70 students from the 7th to the 12th semester, containing 10 questions based on the American Heart Association (AHA) 2020 guidelines. The overall mean score was 7.9 out of 10 (79.6%), with better performance in questions about initial in-hospital conduct (95.6%) and rescuer rotation (97.1%). The greatest difficulty was in identifying the correct sequence of care (C-A-B), with only 23.5% correct answers. Regarding semesters, the 9th showed the best performance (84.3%), while the 12th obtained the lowest (57.5%), suggesting a decline in knowledge in later stages of medical training. In conclusion, although students performed well in some areas, important gaps remain in basic CPR fundamentals, highlighting the need for continuous practical training, active methodologies, and curricular reform to ensure better preparedness of future physicians in managing CPA.