MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study on the data obtained from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Hospital USM) from Jun 2018 until May 2019. Blood samples were taken via a single prick from venous blood and sent separately using 1ml heparinised syringe and were analysed immediately in ED using BGA (Radiometer, ABL800 FLEX, Denmark) and another sample was sent to the central laboratory of Hospital USM and analysed by BCA (Architect, C8000, USA). Only patients who had potassium levels ≥5.0mmol/L on blood gas results were included. A total of 173 sample pairs were included. The correlation and agreement were evaluated using Passing and Bablok regression, Linear Regression and Bland-Altman test.
RESULT: Of the 173 sample pairs, the median of potassium level based on BGA and BCA were 5.50mmol/L (IQR: 1.00) and 5.90mmol/L (IQR: 0.95) respectively. There was significant correlation between two measurements (p<0.001, r: 0.36). The agreement between the two measurements showed within acceptable mean difference which was 0.27 mmol/L with 95% limit of agreement were 1.21mmol/L to 1.73mmol/L.
CONCLUSION: The result of blood gas can be used as a guide for initial treatment of hyperkalaemia in critical cases where time is of the essence. However, BCA result is still the definitive value.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a quantitative crosssectional study conducted from November 2020 until March 2021 which involves 139 HBCD caregivers in Kelantan. Validated questionnaire was used which consisted of 27 questions based on demography, knowledge and attitude towards CPR. The data was keyed in and analysed using software SPSS version 26.
RESULTS: A total of 139 respondents participated in the study. The mean attitude score obtained by the caregivers was 16.67 with SD = 4.22. There were 89 caregivers (64%) with poor knowledge among the 139 HBCD caregivers in the study compared to 50 HBCD caregivers (36%) who had good knowledge. Caregivers who were exposed with CPR training had 5.91 higher odds of having good CPR knowledge compared to those without being exposed to CPR training (Wald-statistic (df) = 21.12 (1), OR (95% CI) = 5.91 (2.77, 12.61), p<0.001). Caregivers with experience in handling CPR were 5.91 of higher odds in having good CPR knowledge compared to those without the experience in handling CPR when adjusted for the duration of caregiver's experience (Wald-statistic (df) = 21.12 (1), OR (95% CI) = 5.91 (2.77, 12.61), p<0.001). HBCD caregivers' experience was the only variable that had a significant p-value when tested in the regression model (p = 0.023).
CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that HBCD caregivers in Kelantan had inadequate CPR knowledge, potentially increasing the risk of OHCA. Planned and regular training for them is mandatory. Exposure to CPR was the associated factor that contributes to knowledge level among HBCD caregivers whereas years of experience as HBCD caregivers influence attitude towards CPR.