Medine Akkan ÖZ, Bensu BULUT, Ayşenur GÜR, Murat GENÇ, Hüseyin MUTLU, Ramiz YAZICI
Comprehensive Medicine - 2026;18(3):227-234
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Basic Life Support (BLS) training provided to muhtars (community leaders) in Ankara using a pre-test/post-test design. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between May and October 2025 with 673 volunteer muhtars from 16 districts of Ankara. Participants received a standardized 16-hour training program (8 hours theoretical, 8 hours practical) based on the American Heart Association 2020 guidelines. Knowledge levels were assessed using a 20-item test administered before and after the training. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: The mean test score increased significantly from 63.7+/-12.7 before training to 90.8+/-8.8 after training (p=0.001). The overall success rate was 90.3%. A significant positive correlation was observed between educational level and examination performance, with participants having higher education levels achieving better scores. Conclusion: The 16-hour BLS program significantly improved community leaders' theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Given the low bystander CPR rates in Türkiye, training community leaders is a strategic intervention to improve OHCA survival. Periodic refresher training and nationwide adoption of this model are recommended to strengthen community emergency response capacity.
