High School Student CPR Training in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study of Teacher Perspectives, Willingness, and Perceived Barriers

BACKGROUND: School cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training has not been previously implemented nor studied in the Arabian Peninsula, and this is due to the challenges that this training imposes. This study aims to determine high school teacher perspectives, willingness, and barriers as related to CPR student training in high schools.

METHODS: An anonymous, voluntary, cross-sectional electronic questionnaire, primarily based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was distributed to high school principals and teachers from 20 local (public and private) high schools between October and December 2021. The questionnaire was a 4-part (demographics, willingness, barriers, implementation approach), 23-variable tool.

RESULTS: Eighty-four out of 88 participants were included in the analysis from 20 high schools. The overall willingness to teach CPR to students was 4.2 ± 0.9, and this willingness was significantly associated with being a female (p = 0.019), being a teacher (p = 0.036), having a family history of cardiovascular disease (p = 0.007), previous school CPR campaigns (p = 0.02), and all TPB factors: attitude (p = 0.001), subjective norms (p = 0.011), and perceived behaviour control (p = 0.007). As for perceived barriers, there was moderate concern regarding the absence of the Good Samaritan law (3.8 ± 1.1) and CoVID-19 transmission (3.5 ± 1.3). High school teaching staff recommended formal legislation of CPR training from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and favoured CPR training delivery by healthcare professionals. However, they were willing to conduct CPR training themselves with regular training, material integration into the curriculum, and online teaching material access.

CONCLUSION: High school teachers are willing to teach students CPR. They need MoE legislation, appropriate training, online material, and a standardized database. Teaching staff also recommend specific training session settings. CoVID-19 and Good Samaritan law are moderate barriers. A number of factors influence teaching staff willingness to conduct CPR training. From this analysis, we recommend piloting CPR training in Kuwait high schools with consideration to the identified influential factors and barriers.