Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support guidelines for people with disability: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: To explore literature, policies or procedures available to care providers on how to deliver CPR and BLS to people with a disability, for whom the current standard guidelines are not fit for purpose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using four databases, namely, CINHAL, PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Google Scholar. Keywords used included, disab*, wheelchairs, cardiopulmonary, resuscitation, "basic life support", life support care, and bystander CPR. 1119 papers were retrieved and 1043 were screened following removal of 76 for duplication. 18 full text articles were reviewed and 5 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The five articles were from three counties and included one case study, three expert opinion papers and one intervention study. Four of the papers advocated in favour of improved CPR and BLS guidelines and three of the papers discussed techniques and ideas for supplementation of standard CPR and BLS. CONCLUSION: The scoping review has uncovered a paucity of evidence explaining delivery of CPR and BLS for people with disability and highlights the need for further research. In the absence of further evidence, it is reasonable for educators to provide ideas and discussion about supplementing CPR and BLS for people with disability to carers.

People with disability and wheelchair users are at a high risk for premature or preventable deaths.Improved first aid responses are proposed to be a mitigating factor for premature and preventable deaths.Improved first aid responses will afford people with disability and wheelchair users the same opportunities for care and rehabilitation as people without disability.Formal and informal carers do not currently have prescriptive guidelines to improve their knowledge on responding to emergency events for people with disabilities.Development of improved guidelines is recommended to reduce fear and anxiety for formal and informal carers whilst also increasing their confidence to respond to emergency situations.

Effects of a Serious Smartphone Game on Nursing Students' Theoretical Knowledge and Practical Skills in Adult Basic Life Support: Randomized Wait List-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Retention of adult basic life support (BLS) knowledge and skills after professional training declines over time. To combat this, the European Resuscitation Council and the American Heart Association recommend shorter, more frequent BLS sessions. Emphasizing technology-enhanced learning, such as mobile learning, aims to increase out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival and is becoming more integral in nursing education. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether playing a serious smartphone game called MOBICPR at home can improve and retain nursing students' theoretical knowledge of and practical skills in adult BLS. METHODS: This study used a randomized wait list-controlled design. Nursing students were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a MOBICPR intervention group (MOBICPR-IG) or a wait-list control group (WL-CG), where the latter received the MOBICPR game 2 weeks after the MOBICPR-IG. The aim of the MOBICPR game is to engage participants in using smartphone gestures (eg, tapping) and actions (eg, talking) to perform evidence-based adult BLS on a virtual patient with OHCA. The participants' theoretical knowledge of adult BLS was assessed using a questionnaire, while their practical skills were evaluated on cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality parameters using a manikin and a checklist. RESULTS: In total, 43 nursing students participated in the study, 22 (51%) in MOBICPR-IG and 21 (49%) in WL-CG. There were differences between the MOBICPR-IG and the WL-CG in theoretical knowledge (P=.04) but not in practical skills (P=.45) after MOBICPR game playing at home. No difference was noted in the retention of participants' theoretical knowledge and practical skills of adult BLS after a 2-week break from playing the MOBICPR game (P=.13). Key observations included challenges in response checks with a face-down manikin and a general neglect of safety protocols when using an automated external defibrillator. CONCLUSIONS: Playing the MOBICPR game at home has the greatest impact on improving the theoretical knowledge of adult BLS in nursing students but not their practical skills. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse scenarios into adult BLS training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05784675); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05784675.

Extracting physiologic and clinical data from defibrillators for research purposes to improve treatment for patients in cardiac arrest.

Background: A defibrillator should be connected to all patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to allow early defibrillation. The defibrillator will collect signal data such as the electrocardiogram (ECG), thoracic impedance and end-tidal CO2, which allows for research on how patients demonstrate different responses to CPR. The aim of this review is to give an overview of methodological challenges and opportunities in using defibrillator data for research. Methods: The successful collection of defibrillator files has several challenges. There is no scientific standard on how to store such data, which have resulted in several proprietary industrial solutions. The data needs to be exported to a software environment where signal filtering and classifications of ECG rhythms can be performed. This may be automated using different algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI). The patient can be classified being in ventricular fibrillation or -tachycardia, asystole, pulseless electrical activity or having obtained return of spontaneous circulation. How this dynamic response is time-dependent and related to covariates can be handled in several ways. These include Aalen's linear model, Weibull regression and joint models. Conclusions: The vast amount of signal data from defibrillator represents promising opportunities for the use of AI and statistical analysis to assess patient response to CPR. This may provide an epidemiologic basis to improve resuscitation guidelines and give more individualized care. We suggest that an international working party is initiated to facilitate a discussion on how open formats for defibrillator data can be accomplished, that obligates industrial partners to further develop their current technological solutions.

Optimal duration and timing of basic-life-support-only intervention for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

To elucidate the relationship between the interval from cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiation to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and neurologically favourable 1-month survival in order to determine the appropriate duration of basic life support (BLS) without advanced interventions. This population-based cohort study included patients aged ≥ 18 years with 9132 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac origin who were bystander-witnessed and had achieved ROSC between 2018 and 2020. Patients were classified into two groups based on the resuscitation methods as the "BLS-only" and the "BLS with administered epinephrine (BLS-AE)" groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that administering BLS for 9 min yielded the best neurologically outcome for patients with a shockable rhythm [sensitivity, 0.42; specificity, 0.27; area under the ROC curve (AUC), 0.60] in the BLS-only group. Contrastingly, for patients with a non-shockable rhythm, performing BLS for 6 min yielded the best neurologically outcome (sensitivity, 0.65; specificity, 0.43; AUC, 0.63). After propensity score matching, multivariate analysis revealed that BLS-only resuscitation [6.44 (5.34-7.77)] was associated with neurologically favourable 1-month survival. This retrospective study revealed that BLS-only intervention had a significant impact in the initial minutes following CPR initiation. Nevertheless, its effectiveness markedly declined thereafter. The optimal duration for effective BLS-only intervention varied depending on the patient's initial rhythm. Consequently, advanced interventions should be administered within the first few minutes to counteract the diminishing effectiveness of BLS-only intervention.

Exploring nurses' experiences of performing basic life support in hospital wards: An inductive thematic analysis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to undertake an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of in-hospital, non-intensive care, ward-based nurses' experiences of real-life CPR events. BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence suggesting that may nurses not be able to successfully perform in a cardiac arrest situation. Reasons include a lack of clear leadership at the arrest, performance anxiety, role confusion and knowledge and skill degradation over time. METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen ward-based hospital nurses from three hospitals. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis was completed using NVivo 12 software. FINDINGS: Four main themes emerged from data. The main themes are: (1) Not Being able to Perform When it Matters, (2) Working Really Well as a Team, (3) Reflecting on the Experience: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly and (4) Learning to get it Right for Next Time CONCLUSION: Performing BLS is a stressful and anxiety-provoking experience for ward-based nurses. Anxiety levels appear to decrease slightly only when nurses have had at least one previous real-life experience with resuscitation. Current BLS education does not prepare nurses for the complexities of resuscitation. Future BLS education should focus on in-depth scenarios, including interdisciplinary team training and with greater frequency than the current yearly mandatory sessions. Listening to the lived experiences of nurses who have performed BLS has given much needed insight into approaches that educators can use to improve BLS education delivery.

The investigation of the efficiency of basic life support education among high school students: Protocol, design and implementation of an interventional, prospective longitudinal, individually randomised, parallel 1:1 grouped trial.

Background: Basic life support (BLS) skills are crucial not only for healthcare workers but for all lay people as well. Timely recognition of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and the initiation of BLS by bystanders before the arrival of healthcare personnel may improve survival. There are several methods of spreading BLS skills and improve BLS skill retention among lay people. One of these methods can be the education of adolescent school children. The introduction of mandatory BLS education in schools was very effective in some European countries to increase the rate of bystander BLS. Methods/design: The current study aims to investigate the efficacy of a BLS training and BLS curriculum among high school children in Hungary. Moreover, the investigators would like to optimise factors influencing skill retention in this first responder group and aim to compare two types of teaching methods: feedback given by the instructor or software-based feedback on the efficacy of chest compressions during the course. This study will be an interventional, assessor blinded, individually randomised parallel group trial recruiting 360 students. BLS skill retention will be assessed at the end of the course, two months after the training and six months after training. Discussion: The current study will increase our knowledge on the methods educating BLS among high school children. The results will help us to create an effective BLS curriculum at schools.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06016153. Prospectively registered on 08/2023.

A comparison between the effects of simulation of basic CPR training and workshops on firefighters' knowledge and skills: experimental study.

BACKGROUND: One of the most common causes of death worldwide is cardiopulmonary arrest. Firefighters are among the first responders at the scenes of accidents and can, therefore, play a key part in performing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for victims who need it. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of simulation training against workshops on the CPR knowledge and skills of firefighters in the south of Iran. METHODS: This experimental (Interventional) study was conducted on 60 firefighters of south of Fars province, Iran. The study was undertaken from March to July 2023. Through random allocation, the participants were divided into two groups: simulation-based training (30 members) and traditional workshop training (30 members). The participants' CPR knowledge and practical skills were measured before, immediately after, and three months after intervention. RESULTS: The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest CPR knowledge and skill mean scores of the simulation groups as compared to the workshop group (p < 0.001). As measured three months after the intervention, the firefighters' knowledge and skill mean scores were still significantly different from their pretest mean scores (p < 0.001); however, they had declined, which can be attributed to the fact that the study population did not frequently exercise CPR. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the study, even though both methods of education were effective on enhancing the firefighters' CPR knowledge and skill, simulation training had a far greater impact than training in workshops. In view of the decline in the participants' knowledge and skill scores over time, it is recommended that short simulation training courses on CPR should be repeated on a regular basis.

Nueva herramienta de comunicación para el entrenamiento de soporte vital básico: smart glasses. Un diseño cuasiexperimental / New communication tool for basic life support training: smart glasses. A quasi-experimental study

Objetivo Analizar la efectividad de una metodología de enseñanza-aprendizaje de teleformación en soporte vital básico (SVB) basada en la comunicación a través de smart glasses. Diseño Estudio piloto cuasiexperimental de no inferioridad. Participantes Un total de 60 estudiantes universitarios. Intervenciones Aleatorización de los participantes en: grupo de teleformación a través de smart glasses (SG) y de formación tradicional (C). Ambas sesiones de entrenamiento fueron muy breves (<8 minutos) e incluyeron el mismo contenido en SVB. En SG, la capacitación fue comunicándose a través de una videollamada con smart glasses. Variables de interés principales Se evaluó el protocolo del SVB, el uso de desfibrilador externo automático (DEA), la calidad de la reanimación y los tiempos de actuación. Resultados En la mayoría de las variables del protocolo del SVB, la calidad de la reanimación y los tiempos de ejecución no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre grupos. Hubo mejor actuación de SG al valorar la respiración (SG: 100%, C: 81%; p=0,013), el avisar antes de la descarga del DEA (SG: 79%, C: 52%; p=0,025) y las compresiones con buena reexpansión (SG: 85%, C: 32%; p=0,008). Conclusiones El tele-entrenamiento en SVB-DEA para legos con smart glasses podría llegar a ser, al menos, tan efectivo como un método tradicional de enseñanza. Además, las smart glasses podrían ser más ventajosas para ciertos aspectos del protocolo del SVB y la calidad de las compresiones, probablemente debido a la capacidad de visualización de imágenes en tiempo real. La enseñanza basada en la realidad aumentada debe considerarse para la capacitación en SVB, aunque se requiere tanto cautela en la extrapolación de hallazgos como estudios futuros con mayor profundidad. (AU)

Aim To analyze the effectiveness of a teaching-learning methodology for teletraining in basic life support (BLS) based on communication through smart glasses. Design Pilot quasi-experimental non-inferiority study. Participants Sixty college students. Interventions Randomization of the participants in: tele-training through smart glasses (SG) and traditional training (C) groups. Both training sessions were very brief (less than 8 minutes) and included the same BLS content. In SG, the instructor trained through a video call with smart glasses. Main variables of interest The BLS protocol, the use of AED, the quality of resuscitation and the response times were evaluated. Results In most of the BLS protocol variables, the resuscitation quality and performance times, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. There were significant differences (in favor of the SG) in the assessment of breathing (SG: 100%, CG: 81%; p=0.013), the not-to-touch warning before applying the shock (SG: 79%, CG: 52%; p=0.025) and compressions with correct recoil (SG: 85%, CG: 32%; p=0.008). Conclusions Laypeople BLS-AED brief tele-training through smart glasses could potentially be, at least, as effective as traditional training methods. In addition, smart glasses could be more advantageous than traditional teaching for certain points of the BLS protocol and chest compressions quality, probably due to the capability of real-time visualization of images which supports the BLS sequence. Augmented reality supported teaching should be considered for BLS training, although caution is required in extrapolating findings, and further in-depth studies are needed to confirm its potential role depending on concrete target populations and environments. (AU)

Assessment of preparedness and proficiency in basic and advanced life support among nursing professionals: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Cardiac diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide, including sudden cardiac arrest in particular. Nursing professionals are often the first to encounter these scenarios in various settings. Adequate preparation and competent knowledge among nurses significantly impact survival rates positively. Aim: To describe the state of knowledge about Basic and Advanced Life Support guidelines among Ecuadorian nursing professionals. Methodology: A nationwide, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2023 among Ecuadorian nursing professionals. Participants were invited through official social media groups such as WhatsApp and Facebook. The study utilized a self-administered online questionnaire to evaluate theoretical knowledge of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). Knowledge scores were assigned based on the number of correct answers on the tests. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to examine relationships between knowledge scores and demographic and academic training variables. Results: A total of 217 nursing professionals participated in the study. The majority of the participants were female (77.4%) and held a university degree (79.9%). Among them, only 44.7% claimed to have obtained a BLS training certificate at least once, and 19.4% had ALS certification. The overall BLS knowledge score (4.8/10 ± 1.8 points) was higher than the ALS score (4.3/10 ± 1.8 points). Participants who had obtained BLS certification and those who used evidence-based summaries as a source of extracurricular training achieved higher BLS and ALS knowledge scores. Conclusion: Ecuadorian nursing professionals in this study exhibited a significant deficiency in theoretical knowledge of BLS and ALS. Formal training and preparation positively impact life support knowledge. Support and inclusion of Ecuadorian nurses in training and academic preparation programs beginning at the undergraduate level are essential for promoting life support knowledge and improving outcomes.

[Layperson basic life support education in Austria: An overview]. / Laienreanimationstraining in Österreich: Eine Übersicht und Annäherung.

Early interventions of laypersons can improve the survival and neurological outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. There are several organizations in Austria which train lay people in basic life support and raise awareness for sudden cardiac death. To obtain an overview of the various initiatives, a questionnaire was sent to 26 organizations, and 15 of the organizations (58%) replied. The geographical distribution of the organizations between rural and urban areas was illustrated in a map. Most of them are situated in a university city, resulting in accessibility disparities for individuals in urban and rural settings. Layperson resuscitation education in Austria is largely dependent on the individual commitments of volunteers. The time spent practicing chest compressions in resuscitation courses ranges from 25% to 90% of the total course time. Furthermore, reasons for a lack of scientific endeavours could be identified, and solutions are suggested. Through better networking between organizations and initiatives, more laypersons could be trained in the future, which would lead to improved survival chances for persons suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Austria. Appropriate support by political bodies and public authorities is and will remain a key element.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes when law enforcement arrives before emergency medical services.

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement (LE) professionals are often dispatched to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) to provide early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) application with mixed evidence of a survival benefit. Our objective was to comprehensively evaluate LE care in OHCA. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of adults with non-traumatic OHCA not witnessed by EMS and without bystander AED use from 2018-2021. Our primary outcome was survival with Cerebral Perfusion Category score ≤ 2 (functional survival). Our exposures included: LE On-scene Only (without providing care); LE CPR Only (without applying an AED); LE Ideal Care (ensuring CPR and AED application). Our control group had no LE arrival before EMS. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusting for confounders and stratified our analyses by patients with and without bystander CPR. RESULTS: There were 2569 adult, non-traumatic OHCAs from 2018-2021 meeting inclusion criteria. There were no differences in the odds of functional survival for LE On-scene Only (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.28 [0.47-3.45]), LE CPR Only (1.26 [0.80-1.99]), or LE Ideal Care (1.36 [0.79-2.33]). In patients without bystander CPR, LE Ideal Care had significantly higher odds of functional survival (2.01 [1.06-3.81]) compared to no LE on-scene, with no significant associations for LE On-scene Only or LE CPR Only. There were no significant differences by LE care in patients already receiving bystander CPR. CONCLUSIONS: LE arrival before EMS and ensuring both CPR and AED application is associated with significantly improved functional survival in OHCA patients not already receiving bystander CPR.

New communication tool for basic life support training: smart glasses. A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: To analyze the effectiveness of a teaching-learning methodology for teletraining in basic life support (BLS) based on communication through smart glasses. DESIGN: Pilot quasi-experimental non-inferiority study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty college students. INTERVENTIONS: Randomization of the participants in: tele-training through smart glasses (SG) and traditional training (C) groups. Both training sessions were very brief (less than 8 min) and included the same BLS content. In SG, the instructor trained through a video call with smart glasses. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: The BLS protocol, the use of AED, the quality of resuscitation and the response times were evaluated. RESULTS: In most of the BLS protocol variables, the resuscitation quality and performance times, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. There were significant differences (in favor of the SG) in the assessment of breathing (SG: 100%, C: 81%; p = 0.013), the not-to-touch warning before applying the shock (SG: 79%, C: 52%; p = 0.025) and compressions with correct recoil (SG: 85%, C: 32%; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Laypeople BLS-AED brief tele-training through smart glasses could potentially be, at least, as effective as traditional training methods. In addition, smart glasses could be more advantageous than traditional teaching for certain points of the BLS protocol and chest compressions quality, probably due to the capability of real-time visualization of images which supports the BLS sequence. Augmented reality supported teaching should be considered for BLS training, although caution is required in extrapolating findings, and further in-depth studies are needed to confirm its potential role depending on concrete target populations and environments.

Reporting standard for describing first responder systems, smartphone alerting systems, and AED networks.

Standardized reporting of data is crucial for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) research. While the implementation of first responder systems dispatching volunteers to OHCA is encouraged, there is currently no uniform reporting standard for describing these systems. A steering committee established a literature search to identify experts in smartphone alerting systems. These international experts were invited to a conference held in Hinterzarten, Germany, with 40 researchers from 13 countries in attendance. Prior to the conference, participants submitted proposals for parameters to be included in the reporting standard. The conference comprised five workshops covering different aspects of smartphone alerting systems. Proposed parameters were discussed, clarified, and consensus was achieved using the Nominal Group Technique. Participants voted in a modified Delphi approach on including each category as a core or supplementary element in the reporting standard. Results were presented, and a writing group developed definitions for all categories and items, which were sent to participants for revision and final voting using LimeSurvey web-based software. The resulting reporting standard consists of 68 core items and 21 supplementary items grouped into five topics (first responder system, first responder network, technology/algorithm/strategies, reporting data, and automated external defibrillators (AED)). This proposed reporting standard generated by an expert opinion group fills the gap in describing first responder systems. Its adoption in future research will facilitate comparison of systems and research outcomes, enhancing the transfer of scientific findings to clinical practice.

A relevância em abordar suporte básico de vida para estudantes em escolas públicas e privadas / The relevance of addressing basic life support for students in public and private schools / La relevancia de abordar el soportevital básico para estudiantes en escuelas públicas y privadas

Objetivo:Investigar a relevância da abordagem de suporte básico de vida aos estudantes nas escolas públicas e privadas. Método:Trata-se de um trabalho constituído através de um estudo descritivo, exploratório, por intermédio de uma revisão sistemática, utilizandoestratégias qualitativas de pesquisa. Ao todo, nove artigos foram escolhidos, cujos critérios foram inclusão, exclusão e éticos. Posteriormente houve a leitura dos textos completos e descarte de conteúdos que fugiam da temática. Utilizou-se como base de dados a Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e a PUBMED (Serviço da U. S. National Library of Medicine). Resultados:Verificou-se que os estudantes que tiveram contato com a temática Suporte Básico de Vida, por meio de simulações e questionários, se mostraram mais preparados para salvar vidas, prevenir acidentes e reduzir danos. Visto que, as emoções e o desenvolvimento de habilidades foram diretamente ligadas, pois, as emoções positivas contribuíram para maior adesão das informações e desenvolvimento de habilidades. Considerações Finais: Assim sendo, os estudantes entendem a relevância de abordar esse assunto e com treinamento contínuo nas escolas a longo prazo irá manter a expertise dos alunos, garantindo chances altas para salvar uma vida.

Objective:To investigate the relevance of the basic life support approach to students in public and private schools. Method:This is a work constituted through a descriptive, exploratory study, through an integrative review, using qualitative research strategies. In all, nine articles were chosen, whose criteria were inclusion, exclusion and ethical. Subsequently, the complete texts were read and contents that deviated from the theme were discarded. The Virtual Health Library and PUBMED (Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine) were used as a database. Results:It was found that students who had contact with the theme Basic Life Support, through simulations and questionnaires, were more prepared to save lives, prevent accidents and reduce harm. Since emotions and skill development were directly linked, as positive emotions contributed to greater adherence to information and skill development. Final considerations:Therefore, students understand the relevance of addressing this subject and with continuous training in schools in the long term, students' expertise will be maintained, guaranteeing high chances of saving a life.

Objetivo:Investigar la pertinencia del abordaje de soporte vital básico para estudiantes de escuelas públicas y privadas. Método: Este es un trabajo constituido a través de un estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, a través de una revisión integradora, utilizando estrategias de investigación cualitativa. En total, se eligieron nueve artículos, cuyos criterios fueron de inclusión, exclusión y éticos. Posteriormente, se leyeron los textos completos y se descartaron los contenidos que se desviaban del tema. Se utilizó como base de datos la Virtual Health Library y PUBMED (Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine). Resultados: Se constató que los estudiantes que tuvieron contacto con el tema Soporte Básico de Vida, a través de simulacros y cuestionarios, estaban máspreparados para salvar vidas, prevenir accidentes y reducir daños. Dado que las emociones y el desarrollo de habilidades estaban directamente relacionados, las emociones positivas contribuyeron a una mayor adherencia a la información y al desarrollo de habilidades. Consideraciones Finales: Por lo tanto, los estudiantes entienden la relevancia de abordar este tema y con la formación continua en las escuelas a largo plazo, se mantendrá la experiencia de los estudiantes, garantizando altas posibilidades de salvar una vida

Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Regarding Basic Life Support Among the General Population in the Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest is a critical medical emergency that can strike individuals of any age or background, often occurring suddenly and unpredictably. The administration of Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques by laypersons in the first few crucial minutes following a cardiac arrest can substantially increase the chances of survival and minimize potential neurological damage. Despite the vital role of BLS in saving lives, there remains a gap in public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding BLS among the general population in many regions worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of community-based interventions to enhance cardiac arrest survival rates. Public involvement in the early stages of cardiac arrest management is a key component of the chain of survival, and improving BLS awareness and knowledge among the general population is central to this effort. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes with regard to BLS among the general population in the Al-Majma'ah region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study adopted among the population living in the Al-Majma'ah region of Saudi Arabia. The data was collected by a pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The questions included information on social demographic information, awareness and knowledge, and attitudes related to BLS. RESULTS: More than half the participants (n=352; 52.5%) understand that during cardiac arrest, the heart is still beating and pumping blood, but the person is not breathing normally. This is an important understanding for providing proper care during a cardiac arrest situation. On the other hand, the study found that 384 (57.2%) had various reasons for their lack of knowledge about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The biggest reason was lack of interest (n=98; 14.6%). This highlights a need for increased awareness and education about the importance of CPR. The findings from the Pearson correlation conducted in this study show that age has a significant influence on the level of awareness and knowledge of cardiac arrest BLS. The p-value obtained for the test was 0.014, indicating that there is a significant relationship between age and awareness and knowledge of BLS. Similarly, the study findings also show that gender has a significant influence on the attitude of cardiac arrest BLS. CONCLUSION: The participants had a decent understanding of BLS, particularly regarding concepts like cardiac arrest and the role of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). However, they showed confusion or gaps in awareness, especially concerning the correct initial steps when encountering a collapsed person. Many participants felt uncomfortable performing Hands-Only CPR in a real-life situation due to a lack of knowledge and skills, which acted as a significant barrier to public CPR performance.

Importance of basic life support training in rural India.

Basic life support (BLS) provided right away can lower fatality rates. Cardiac arrest typically results in death within minutes if it is untreated. Therefore, it is of interest to assess how BLS training affected villagers. The pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was chosen for the investigation. A non-probability volunteer sampling technique was adopted to collect a sample of 220 village residents who met the inclusion requirements. The participants received training in basic life support that is achieved by using a real-life role model, hands-on CPR instruction. Checklist served as a standardized method for assessing the BLS training program. The pre-test and post-test's means were 23.05 and 56.51, respectively, and their respective standard deviations were 11.89 and 8.27. The 'z test' calculation result is 12.36) The results showed that BLS training was more successful for villagers and that they required regular BLS training programs to maintain their BLS skill level.

Effectiveness of blended learning basic life support module on knowledge and skills: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: To examine the effectiveness of the BLS blended learning module on knowledge and skills of BLS compared to the traditional module. Method: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized using key words to searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for the studies published between January 2018 to May 2022. The risk of bias was assessed utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Two reviewers separately extracted data from the included trials using a standardized data extraction form. Results: From 400 articles retrieved by the initial search, 11 studies were found to be eligible. Most studies' participants were laypersons (80.9 %), and the rest were either nursing (12.6 %) or medical students (6.5 %). The review shows superiority of utilizing the blended strategy in applying the BLS module in skills and knowledge retention, rather than using the traditional learning, which could improve the quality and outcomes of patients. Conclusions: Blended learning is effective in teaching BLS like the traditional face-to-face method, but more advantages of the blended learning module include improvement in retaining knowledge, skills acquisition, patient outcomes, and cost saving. The COVID-19 pandemic made blended learning crucial and using this method in BLS was effective and efficient. Future research to assess the effectiveness of blended learning on patient outcomes is recommended.

Evaluation of a newly developed first aid training programme adapted for older people.

BACKGROUND: Older people need to acquire knowledge and skills at first aid (FA) training tailored to them. Our research aimed to evaluate an FA training programme adapted for older people. We assumed that satisfaction with FA training, as well as knowledge of FA, would be higher among older people who received training according to an adapted programme compared to those who received training according to the existing programme for the general public. METHODS: We trained older people according to the existing FA programme for the general public and according to a new FA training programme adapted for older people. The new training program is shorter and focuses on FA contents that are more relevant for older people. We evaluated participants with a general assessment questionnaire (consisting of items regarding satisfaction, comprehensibility, length, and physical difficulty), a test on theoretical FA knowledge, and a test on practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge. To ensure the homogeneity of the groups and to verify the impact on the results of the test of practical CPR knowledge, we also tested the participants regarding their psychophysical capabilities. RESULTS: A total of 120 people completed the free FA training sessions. The general assessment questionnaire score of participants who were trained based on the new FA training program was 19.3 (out of 20), which was statistically significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of those trained based on the old program (general assessment score of 17.1). Participants who were trained based on the new program scored an average of 8.6 points on the theoretical FA knowledge test, while those who were trained based on the old program scored an average of 7.1 points, which was statistically significantly (p < 0.05) lower. In both programs, the same average scores (7.5 out of 10 points) on the practical CPR knowledge test was achieved. However, participants who participated in the FA course adapted for the older people gained practical CPR knowledge in a shorter time. Older people with a greater psychophysical capacity were more successful in performing CPR, regardless of which FA training programme they received. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of FA training is greater if older people are trained in accordance with a targeted programme adapted to the psychophysical limitations of the older people.

Parental perceptions of the importance of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the survival rate in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the practice of chest compressions combined with rescue breathing, is crucial for the success of out-of-hospital resuscitation after sudden cardiac arrest. Thus, imparting the requisite knowledge and skills to parents/caregivers can significantly enhance survival rates. This study investigated parental awareness of the impact of out-of-hospital pediatric CPR on survival rates in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire administered to Saudi parents from all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method, as the questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaire consisted of five parts: (1) demographic data, (2) questions about parents' perception of basic life support (BLS), (3) evaluation of parents' knowledge of the impact of prehospital CPR on survival rates, (4) measurement of parents' competency in performing pediatric CPR, and (5) assessment of whether parents' confidence was affected by prior training. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, and the t-test was used to compare the mean scores of the groups of parents with medical and non-medical professional backgrounds. RESULTS: A total of 1,065 individuals responded to the survey. The respondents' mean age was 41 ± 0.2 years and 46.5% were men. We found that 73.9% of respondents had no prior experience with BLS, 87% had never taken a BLS course, and 61% did not know where to find one. The majority of participants agreed that bystander CPR contributes to overall survival rates, and 77% agreed to the importance of BLS training. Medical professionals showed a higher percentage of agreement on the importance of BLS than those from non-medical backgrounds (90% vs. 76%, p = 0.036), especially parents of high-risk children. CONCLUSION: This study showed evidence of interest in CPR and BLS training in Saudi parents, despite the low levels of knowledge regarding BLS training.

Effectiveness of an educational intervention on first-year nursing students' knowledge and confidence to perform basic life support: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Knowing how to respond effectively to an acutely deteriorating patient is a National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard and a requirement for nurse registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Authority. Literature has highlighted that a lack of knowledge, skills and confidence in healthcare professionals to perform basic life support may be a contributing factor to the high mortality and morbidity rates associated with cardiac arrest in the hospital setting. AIM: To explore first-year nursing students' knowledge and confidence to perform basic life support according to the Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines before and after watching an online video lecture. METHOD: A quantitative quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design to measure changes, if any, in first-year nursing students' knowledge and confidence to perform basic life support at an Australian university in 2021. FINDINGS: The collected data were analysed using Stata, a statistical software for data sciences. Participants' mean knowledge score increased from 9.3 (SD: 2.5) in the pre-test to 13.9 (SD: 3) (p < 0.001) in the post-test (maximum possible score: 19). Participants' mean confidence score increased from 17.0 (SD: 6.3) in the pre-test to 24.5 (SD: 4.4) (p < 0.001) in the post-test (maximum possible score: 30; p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The most significant improvement in knowledge was observed in chest compression rate, breathing/ ventilation and checking patient response. The study found that the video lecture is an effective teaching method to increase students' confidence to perform basic life support. CONCLUSION: An online video-recorded lecture can increase undergraduate student nurses' knowledge and confidence to perform basic life support. This is one educational strategy that universities can use to improve students' knowledge and confidence to perform this essential skill for practice.