Background Bystander Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a key determinant of survival after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) but is performed at only around half of OHCA in UK. This study collected data to inform a social marketing strategy to address the barriers to responding to OHCA.

Methods A representative sample (n=1027) of Scottish adults aged 16 and over were included in a general population face-to-face omnibus survey in 2015.

Results We identified three factors associated with knowledge, experience, and attitudes toward bystander CPR. Age – the older a person is, the less likely they were to be CPR trained and show willingness to be CPR trained. They were also more likely to have had CPR training more than five years previously and be the least confident to administer bystander CPR. These findings are particularly relevant considering that most OHCA happen in the homes of older people. Social grade – people in professional managerial and non-manual occupations were more likely than those in manual, unskilled occupations and long-term unemployed people to be CPR trained and be more confident to administer CPR if talked through by a call handler. Working status – people who were working were more likely to be CPR trained, be trained more recently and show higher levels of confidence to administer CPR. Barriers cited for not administering CPR were not having the skills or confidence to give CPR, fear of making things worse or of being sued.

Conclusions Future social marketing strategies to improve bystander CPR should address the barriers to administering CPR by building confidence and addressing myths/fears.