title: Evaluation of Public Awareness, Knowledge and Attitudes about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Report of İzmir.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by witnesses increases survival after cardiac arrest. In Turkey, our country, it is rare that basic life support (BLS) is initiated by a layperson. In our study, we aimed to use a survey to research awareness, level of knowledge and attitudes of the public to CPR and BLS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 21-question survey was administered to individuals aged ≥18 years on a busy street in a city of a western region of Turkey. Topics such as knowledge about cardiac arrest findings, previous experience of CPR, knowledge of BLS and concerns related to CPR were questioned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fully completed forms of 533 people were evaluated. There were 40.7% who stated that they had received training in CPR. For signs of cardiac arrest, 40.7% answered loss of consciousness, 49.3% answered cessation of breathing and 60.7% answered cessation of circulation. It was found that 35.5% could perform only chest compressions, 27.6% could perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation and 28.7% able to perform both. While 52.0% knew the location for performing chest compressions, 34.3% knew the correct depth and 15.6% knew the correct compression-ventilation rate. Bystander CPR was performed by 3.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, 40.7% of people living in a highly educated region in the western part of Turkey had received CPR training and 3.6% performed bystander CPR. A majority of participants stated that they were willing to correct and develop their knowledge and skills related to CPR. Effective public CPR training programmes may increase the knowledge and awareness of CPR in the adult population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şule
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Özbilgin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hancı
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aygün
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuvaki
keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; attitudes; cardiac arrest; healthy knowledge; survey