Enseñando soporte vital básico a la población general. Análisis de las intervenciones de los alumnos / Teaching basic life support to the general population. Alumni intervention analysis

OBJETIVOS: Estudiar la tasa de detección e intervención en situaciones de urgencia extrahospitalaria por parte de los alumnos de cursos de soporte vital básico (SVB). Definir variables de los alumnos asociados a una mayor tasa de detección e intervención. Estudio de eficiencia de las intervenciones. DISEÑO: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Ámbito: Comarca del Poniente de Almería. PACIENTES: Alumnos de un plan de formación masiva en SVB a población general «Plan Salvavidas» desarrollado entre 2003 y 2009. Intervención: En 2010 se encuestó a los alumnos del «Plan Salvavidas» sobre si habían presenciado situaciones de urgencia y datos relacionados con dichas situaciones. Variables principales: Tasa de detección de situación de urgencias. Intervención en situaciones de urgencias. Perfil sociodemográfico de intervinientes. RESULTADOS: Tres mil ochocientos sesenta y cuatro alumnos formados fueron llamados por teléfono: obtuvimos respuestas de 1.098, el 63,9% fueron mujeres, la edad media fue 26,61 ± 10,6. Un 11,75% habían presenciado situaciones de urgencia, de media 3 años tras el curso. Un 23,3% de las urgencias fueron paradas cardíacas. Los alumnos intervinieron en un 98% de los casos posibles. La relación de los alumnos con la víctima era inexistente en el 63% de los casos, la mayoría se presenciaron fuera del domicilio. Se asoció a una mayor tasa de detección de situaciones de urgencia: ser trabajador del ámbito sanitario y ser mayor de 18 años. CONCLUSIONES: En nuestra serie la tasa de urgencias extrahospitalarias presenciadas tras los cursos de SVB fue del 11,75%. El intervencionismo fue alto. La población diana más eficiente fueron los trabajadores del ámbito sanitario

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate at which the alumni of basic life support courses witnessed and intervened in out-of-hospital emergency situations, and to identify the variables characterizing those alumni associated with a greater number of witnessing events and interventions. An analysis of the efficiency of the courses was also carried out. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was made. SETTING: A district in the province of Almería (Spain). PATIENTS: Alumni of a mass basic life support training program targeted to the general population «Plan Salvavidas» conducted between 2003-2009. INTERVENTIONS: In 2010 the alumni were administered a telephone survey asking whether they had witnessed an emergency situation since attending the program, with the collection of information related to this emergency situation. Main variables of interest: Rate of out-of-hospital emergencies witnessed by the alumni. Rate of intervention of the alumni in emergency situations. Variables characterizing alumni with a greater likelihood of witnessing an emergency situation. RESULTS: A total of 3,864 trained alumni were contacted by telephone. Of 1,098 respondents, 63.9% were women, and the mean age was 26.61 ± 10.6 years. Of these alumni, 11.75% had witnessed emergency situations, an average of three years after completing the course. Of these emergencies, 23.3% were identified as cardiac arrest. The alumni intervened in 98% of the possible cases. In 63% of the cases, there was no connection between the alumni and the victim. The majority of the emergency situations occurred in the street and in public spaces. A greater likelihood of witnessing an emergency situation was associated with being a healthcare worker and with being over 18 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of out-of-hospital emergencies witnessed by these alumni after the course was 11.75%. The level of intervention among the alumni was high. The most efficient target population consisted of healthcare workers

Influencia de los factores sociodemográficos en la adquisición de habilidades en soporte vital básico / Influence of sociodemographic factors on the learning of basic life support skills

Objetivos: Evaluar el nivel formativo alcanzado por alumnos de un plan de formación masiva en técnicas de soporte vital básico (SVB) y su relación con factores socioculturales y demográficos. Método: Desde el año 2003 hasta el 2009 se desarrolló un plan de formación masiva en SVB "Plan Salvá Vidas" en el Sureste de Andalucía. Todos los alumnos fueron registrados en una base de datos, que incluía los valores sociodemográficos: edad, género y nivel de estudios, presencia de enfermedades cardiacas en familiares y realización previa de cursos de soporte vital. Los alumnos fueron evaluados según el nivel final de adquisición de conocimientos y habilidades. Resultados: En total se formaron 3.864 alumnos, en 199 cursos. El 63,4% fueron mujeres, la edad media de los alumnos fue 26,1 (11,5) años, el 58,5% de los alumnos sólo había cursado estudios elementales. El 15,1% habían asistido previamente a algún curso relacionado con soporte vital. Un 18,9% de los alumnos tenían un familiar con cardiopatía. El 95,3% superaron los cursos de forma satisfactoria. La edad superior a 50 e inferior a 18 años y un bajo nivel de estudios se correlacionaron con peores resultados docentes (p < 0,001). La realización previa de cursos de soporte vital fue un predictor de mejores resultados (p = 0,011). Tener familiares con cardiopatía no influyó en los resultados (p = 0,118). Conclusión: Los cursos tradicionales de SVB guiados por instructor tienen unos resultados docentes satisfactorios. Las variables sociodemográficas y culturales influyen en sus resultados. Los alumnos mayores de 50 años y menores de 18 obtuvieron peores resultados (AU)

Objectives: To assess the level of skill attained by participants in a large-scale training program in basic life support (BLS) and the relation between achievement and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A large-scale BLS training program was implemented in Almeria, in south-eastern Andalusia, Spain, between 2003 and 2009. The following sociodemographic information was recorded for all participants: age, gender, educational level, history of heart disease in relatives, and previous BLS training. The level of achievement (knowledge and skill) was assessed at the end of training. Results: A total of 3864 participants were trained in 199 courses; 63.4% were women, the mean (SD) age was 26.13 (11.47) years, 58.5% had only received elementary school education, 15.1% had received previous BLS training, and 18.9% had a relative with heart disease. Achievement was assessed as satisfactory for 95.3% of the participants. Age over 50 years or under 18 years and a low educational level were correlated with poorer achievement (P<.001). Previous BLS training was a predictor of better results (P=.011). Having a relative with heart disease did not influence achievement (P=.118). Conclusions: Traditional instructor-led BLS training courses give satisfactory results. Sociodemographic characteristics influence achievement in BLS courses. Learners over the age of 50 years or under the age of 18 years achieve poorer results (AU)

[Teaching basic life support to the general population. Alumni intervention analysis]. / Enseñando soporte vital básico a la población general. Análisis de las intervenciones de los alumnos.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the rate at which the alumni of basic life support courses witnessed and intervened in out-of-hospital emergency situations, and to identify the variables characterizing those alumni associated with a greater number of witnessing events and interventions. An analysis of the efficiency of the courses was also carried out. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was made. SETTING: A district in the province of Almería (Spain). PATIENTS: Alumni of a mass basic life support training program targeted to the general population «Plan Salvavidas¼ conducted between 2003-2009. INTERVENTIONS: In 2010 the alumni were administered a telephone survey asking whether they had witnessed an emergency situation since attending the program, with the collection of information related to this emergency situation. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Rate of out-of-hospital emergencies witnessed by the alumni. Rate of intervention of the alumni in emergency situations. Variables characterizing alumni with a greater likelihood of witnessing an emergency situation. RESULTS: A total of 3,864 trained alumni were contacted by telephone. Of 1,098 respondents, 63.9% were women, and the mean age was 26.61±10.6 years. Of these alumni, 11.75% had witnessed emergency situations, an average of three years after completing the course. Of these emergencies, 23.3% were identified as cardiac arrest. The alumni intervened in 98% of the possible cases. In 63% of the cases, there was no connection between the alumni and the victim. The majority of the emergency situations occurred in the street and in public spaces. A greater likelihood of witnessing an emergency situation was associated with being a healthcare worker and with being over 18 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of out-of-hospital emergencies witnessed by these alumni after the course was 11.75%. The level of intervention among the alumni was high. The most efficient target population consisted of healthcare workers.