TY - JOUR
T1 - Socio-demographic characteristics of basic life support course participants in Denmark
AU - Walther Jensen, Theo
AU - Folke, Fredrik
AU - Porsborg Andersen, Mikkel
AU - Nikolaj Blomberg, Stig
AU - Juul Jørgensen, Anne
AU - Gelderman Holgersen, Mathias
AU - Kjær Erbøll, Annette
AU - Mazur Hendriksen, Ole
AU - Lippert, Freddy
AU - Torp-Pedersen, Christian
AU - Collatz Christensen, Helle
N1 - Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Bystander-initiated basic life support (BLS) plays an important role in improving survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In 2009, laws mandating BLS course participation when acquiring a driver's licence were implemented in Denmark. The aim of this study was to characterise Danish BLS course participants.METHODS: This study is a Danish, registry-based, follow-up study that examined all Danish BLS course participants from 2016 to 2019. Data concerning BLS course participation were supplied by the major Danish BLS course providers. Socio-economic and healthcare data on all Danish inhabitants were assessed using national registers from Statistics Denmark.RESULTS: Between January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2020, 3.6% of the entire adult population of Denmark attended certified BLS courses annually. Since the implementation of a law mandating BLS course participation when acquiring a driver licence in 2009, approximately 44% of the adult population has participated in a BLS course. BLS course participants were commonly younger and healthier than the general population (mean 31.3 years old vs. 51.3 years old, P < 0.001). Furthermore, law-mandated BLS course participants had a lower disposable income (adjusted OR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.23-0.23; P < 0.001) and were more likely to live in rural areas (adjusted OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.57-0.58; P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: In Denmark, 3.6% of the entire adult population attend certified courses annually. BLS participants are commonly male, younger, healthier, less likely to have small children in the household, and more likely to live in rural areas. Law-mandated BLS course participation prior to acquiring a driver's licence has been successful in reaching segments of the society that are known to have limited participation.
AB - BACKGROUND: Bystander-initiated basic life support (BLS) plays an important role in improving survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In 2009, laws mandating BLS course participation when acquiring a driver's licence were implemented in Denmark. The aim of this study was to characterise Danish BLS course participants.METHODS: This study is a Danish, registry-based, follow-up study that examined all Danish BLS course participants from 2016 to 2019. Data concerning BLS course participation were supplied by the major Danish BLS course providers. Socio-economic and healthcare data on all Danish inhabitants were assessed using national registers from Statistics Denmark.RESULTS: Between January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2020, 3.6% of the entire adult population of Denmark attended certified BLS courses annually. Since the implementation of a law mandating BLS course participation when acquiring a driver licence in 2009, approximately 44% of the adult population has participated in a BLS course. BLS course participants were commonly younger and healthier than the general population (mean 31.3 years old vs. 51.3 years old, P < 0.001). Furthermore, law-mandated BLS course participants had a lower disposable income (adjusted OR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.23-0.23; P < 0.001) and were more likely to live in rural areas (adjusted OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.57-0.58; P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: In Denmark, 3.6% of the entire adult population attend certified courses annually. BLS participants are commonly male, younger, healthier, less likely to have small children in the household, and more likely to live in rural areas. Law-mandated BLS course participation prior to acquiring a driver's licence has been successful in reaching segments of the society that are known to have limited participation.
U2 - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.11.006
DO - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.11.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 34798179
SN - 0300-9572
VL - 170
SP - 167
EP - 177
JO - Resuscitation
JF - Resuscitation
ER -