Abstract P78: Teaching Basic Life Support to School Children in Northern Ireland Using the ’ABC for life’ Programme

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Toner ◽  
Michael Connolly ◽  
Patrice McGrath ◽  
Leanne Laverty ◽  
David Connolly ◽  
...  

Aims: Northern Ireland has one of the highest incidences of ischaemic heart disease in the world. Teaching BLS to school children has previously been recommended. Our aim was to assess if eleven year old children can aquire and retain knowledge of basic life support (BLS) skills six months after a course of instruction (Study 1) and to assess the effectiveness of a three tier ‘peer training’ model using medical students, teachers and pupils (Study 2). This would be a cost effective way of significantly decreasing mortality from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Methods: The ‘ABC for Life’ programme is a regional course in BLS training in Northern Ireland specifically designed for 10 –12 year old school children. Medical students are trained as instructors in BLS by cardiac resuscitation officers at a major teaching hospital. Children were given a 22 point questionnaire before training and immediately after training to assess acquisition of BLS, and again six months after training to assess retention of knowledge (Study 1). In study 2, medical students instructed teachers how to teach BLS to their pupils. Pupils were given the same questionnaire to assess knowledge of BLS immediately before and after a teacher led training session at their school. Results: Study 1: Children showed a highly significant increase in knowledge following the training session (46.8% vs 82.7%, p<0.001). Six months later their knowledge remained significantly higher than that of a control group who had never been trained (61.1% vs 46.8%, p<0.01). Study 2: Thirty eight teachers were trained from one education board. The first five children trained at each school were randomly selected. Questionnaires were returned for 44.7% pupils at baseline and 42.1% pupils after training. Mean baseline scores improved significantly after training (57.2% vs 77.7%, p<0.001). Conclusion These studies demonstrate that by using medical students and teachers, a large number of children can be trained in a short time period and at relatively low cost. Children can acquire and retain knowledge of BLS for at least six months. The initiative provides manikins and training resources to all schools. To date, the programme has trained 350 schools. We have commenced research of physical skills using a recordable mainikin.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Binkhorst ◽  
J M Th Draaisma ◽  
Y. Benthem ◽  
E. M. R. van de Pol ◽  
M. Hogeveen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Peer-led basic life support training in medical school may be an effective and valued way of teaching medical students, yet no research has been conducted to evaluate the effect on the self-efficacy of medical students. High self-efficacy stimulates healthcare professionals to initiate and continue basic life support despite challenges. Methods A randomized controlled trial, in which medical students received pediatric basic life support (PBLS) training, provided by either near-peer instructors or expert instructors. The students were randomly assigned to the near-peer instructor group (n = 105) or expert instructor group (n = 108). All students received two hours of PBLS training in groups of approximately 15 students. Directly after this training, self-efficacy was assessed with a newly developed questionnaire, based on a validated scoring tool. A week after each training session, students performed a practical PBLS exam and completed another questionnaire to evaluate skill performance and self-efficacy, respectively. Results Students trained by near-peers scored significantly higher on self-efficacy regarding all aspects of PBLS. Theoretical education and instructor feedback were equally valued in both groups. The scores for the practical PBLS exam and the percentage of students passing the exam were similar in both groups. Conclusions Our findings point towards the fact that near-peer-trained medical students can develop a higher level of PBLS-related self-efficacy than expert-trained students, with comparable PBLS skills in both training groups. The exact relationship between peer teaching and self-efficacy and between self-efficacy and the quality of real-life pediatric resuscitation should be further explored. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN69038759. Registered December 12th, 2019 – Retrospectively registered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Lurdes Rovisco Branquinho Pais Monteiro ◽  
Ana Isabel Borges Ferraz ◽  
Fernanda Maria Pereira Rodrigues

ABSTRACT Objective: Teaching basic life support to schoolchildren is well established as one of the most effective strategies in increasing bystander CPR rates. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence concerning the Portuguese pediatric population. The present study aims to evaluate the outcome of a basic life support training session on theoretical knowledge and self-efficacy, immediately after the training and 6 months later, in a pediatric population. Methods: A total of 392 schoolchildren, aged seven to 12 years old, participated in this prospective longitudinal study, answering a questionnaire before, immediately after, and six months after receiving 120 minutes of resuscitation training from medical students. Results: There was a significant increase in the knowledge and self-efficacy after one single training session. Both decreased over a period of six months but remained significantly higher than the baseline. These results were homogeneous across classes. Conclusions: Medical students provided adequate basic life support training to a group of Portuguese schoolchildren, with effects in the knowledge and self-efficacy lasting for at least six months.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-244
Author(s):  
Rainer Haseneder ◽  
Matthias Skrzypczak ◽  
Bernhard Haller ◽  
Stefan K Beckers ◽  
Julia Holch ◽  
...  

IntroductionTo increase the rate of bystander resuscitation, basic life support (BLS) training for schoolchildren is now recommended on a broad level. However, debate continues about the optimal teaching methods. In this study, we investigated the effects of a 90 min BLS training on female pupils’ BLS knowledge and self-confidence and whether learning outcomes were influenced by the instructors’ professional backgrounds or test-enhanced learning.MethodsWe conducted a cluster randomised, longitudinal trial in a girls’ grammar school in Germany from 2013 to 2014. Pupils aged 10–17 years were randomised to receive BLS training conducted by either emergency physicians or medical students. Using a multiple-choice questionnaire and a Likert-type scale, BLS knowledge and self-confidence were investigated before training (t0), 1 week (t1) and 9 months after training (t2). To investigate whether test-enhanced learning influenced learning outcomes, the questionnaire was administered 6 months after the training in half of the classrooms. The data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models.ResultsThe study included 460 schoolchildren. BLS knowledge (mean number of correct answers) increased from 5.86 at t0to 9.24 at t1(p<0.001) and self-confidence (mean score on the Likert-type scale) increased from 8.70 at t0to 11.29 at t1(p<0.001). After 9 months, knowledge retention was good (8.94 at t2; p=0.080 vs t1), but self-confidence significantly declined from t1to 9.73 at t2(p<0.001). Pupils trained by medical students showed a slight but statistically significant greater increase in the knowledge at both t1and t2, whereas instructors’ background did not influence gain or retention of self-confidence. Retesting resulted in a marginally, non-significantly better retention of knowledge.ConclusionsBLS training led to short-term gains in knowledge and self-confidence. Although knowledge was retained at 9 months after the training session, self-confidence significantly decreased. Interim testing did not appear to impact retention of knowledge or self-confidence. Medical students should be considered as instructors for these courses given their favourable learning outcomes and greater availability.


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