title: Attitudes of law enforcement officers regarding automated external defibrillators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge and attitudes of law enforcement officers regarding treating out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a survey conducted among officers serving Marion County, Indiana.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,130 surveys distributed, 929 (82.2%) were returned. Among these officers, 603 (66.4%) were certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and 103 (11.3%) had received AED training. Most officers had limited knowledge regarding OHCA. A 100-point knowledge score (mean +/- SD: 31.9 +/- 14.3) was higher in officers who had performed CPR while on duty [35.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 32.9 to 37.2, p = 0.005] and who were AED-trained (40.8, 95% CI = 38.0 to 43.6, p < 0.001). Of the respondents, 367 (40.1%) believed that AED usage by local law enforcement was needed, and 323 (35.6%) stated that they would feel comfortable using an AED if trained. A 100-point attitude score (mean +/- SD: 32.1 +/- 21.0) was higher in officers who had CPR certification (38.2, 95% CI = 35.6 to 40.8), who had performed CPR while on duty (40.6, 95% CI = 37.7 to 43.5), who were AED-trained (39.5, 95% CI = 35.6 to 43.4), and who had improved OHCA knowledge (+3.8 per 10 points knowledge score, 95% CI = 3.0 to 4.7), p < 0.001, all significant factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited knowledge and negative attitudes of law enforcement officers regarding their involvement in treating OHCA and using AEDs are commonly present. These factors could result in barriers that negatively impact law enforcement AED programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. wgroh@iupui.edu
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.forename: Miriam R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Amanda D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Jeanie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: W Craig
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fishburn
authors.forename: Douglas P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zipes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000193:education*; D000368:Aged; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police / Q000193:education*; D014505:Urban Population