Objective  To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about automated external defibrillators (AEDs) among college students and analyze the influencing factors.

Methods From May to August 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 447 students selected by convenient sampling from 6 universities in Beijing. The information on demographic characteristics, understanding of AEDs, and KAP of AEDs was collected. Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the factors influencing KAP of AEDs.

Results A total of 1 447 students were investigated, with an average age of (22.51 ± 4.73) years. Among the population surveyed, 123 (8.50%) individuals had never heard of AEDs; 867 (59.92%) individuals were aware of AEDs and their functions but were unable to operate AEDs; only 68 (4.70%) individuals were capable of operating AEDs. The median (interquartile ranges) of KAP score about AEDs was 62 (55, 68). The logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who had never participated in first aid training (OR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.52–0.97), were unaware of the legal protection associated with rescue action (OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.56–0.91), and lacked knowledge about the availability of AEDs around them (OR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.53–0.89) scored lower in KAP about AEDs. Conversely, participants who were aware of AEDs and their functions but could not operate AEDs (OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.50–2.57) and those who could operate AEDs (OR = 4.51, 95%CI: 2.36–8.64) demonstrated higher scores in KAP about AEDs.

Conclusions The study indicates that the population has limited knowledge of AEDs but a good level of KAP. Factors such as participation in first aid training, awareness of AEDs function, understanding of legal protection for rescue action, and knowledge of the availability of AEDs around them significantly influence the KAP about AEDs.