Effect of two additional interventions, test and reflection, added to standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on seventh grade students practical skills and willingness to act : a cluster randomised trial

Objectives The aim of this research is to investigate if two additional interventions, test and reflection, after standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training facilitate learning by comparing 13-year-old students practical skills and willingness to act. Settings Seventh grade students in council schools of two municipalities in south-east Sweden. Design School classes were randomised to CPR training only (O), CPR training with a practical test including feedback (T) or CPR training with reflection and a practical test including feedback (RT). Measures of practical skills and willingness to act in a potential life-threatening situation were studied directly after training and at 6 months using a digital reporting system and a survey. A modified Cardiff test was used to register the practical skills, where scores in each of 12 items resulted in a total score of 12-48 points. The study was conducted in accordance with current European Resuscitation Council guidelines during December 2013 to October 2014. Participants 29 classes for a total of 587 seventh grade students were included in the study. Primary and secondary outcome measures The total score of the modified Cardiff test at 6 months was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were the total score directly after training, the 12 individual items of the modified Cardiff test and willingness to act. Results At 6 months, the T and O groups scored 32 (3.9) and 30 (4.0) points, respectively (pamp;lt;0.001), while the RT group scored 32 (4.2) points (not significant when compared with T). There were no significant differences in willingness to act between the groups after 6 months. Conclusions A practical test including feedback directly after training improved the students acquisition of practical CPR skills. Reflection did not increase further CPR skills. At 6-month follow-up, no intervention effect was found regarding willingness to make a life-saving effort.Funding Agencies|Foundation for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Sweden; Swedish Resuscitation Council; Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation [20130629]; County Council of Ostergotland