Quality of Basic Life Support – A Comparison between Medical Students and Paramedics
Introduction: Poor survival rates after cardiac arrest can partly be explained by poor basic life support skills in medical professionals. Aim: This study aimed to assess quality of basic life support in medical students and paramedics. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective observa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/8197/19221_CE[Ra]_F(P)_PF1(ROAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Poor survival rates after cardiac arrest can
partly be explained by poor basic life support skills in medical
professionals.
Aim: This study aimed to assess quality of basic life support in
medical students and paramedics.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective
observational study with 100 early medical students (group A),
100 late medical students (group B) and 100 paramedics (group
C), performing a 20-minute basic life support simulation in
teams of two. Average frequency and absolute number of chest
compressions per minute (mean (±SD)), chest decompression
(millimetres of compression remaining, mean (±SD)), handsoff-time (seconds/minute, mean (±SD)), frequency of switching
positions between ventilation and chest compression (per 20
minutes) and rate of sufficient compressions (depth ≥50mm)
were assessed as quality parameters of CPR.
Results: In groups A, B and C the rates of sufficiently deep
chest compressions were 56%, 42% and 52%, respectively,
without significant differences. Male gender and real-life CPR
experience were significantly associated with deeper chest
compression. Frequency and number of chest compressions
were within recommended goals in at least 96% of all groups.
Remaining chest compressions were 6 mm (±2), 6 mm (±2) and
5 mm (±2) with a significant difference between group A and C
(p=0.017). Hands-off times were 6s/min (±1), 5s/min (±1) and
4s/min (±1), which was significantly different across all three
groups.
Conclusion: Overall, paramedics tended to show better
quality of CPR compared to medical students. Though, chest
compression depth as an important quality characteristic of
CPR was insufficient in almost 50% of participants, even in
well trained paramedics. Therefore, we suggest that an effort
should be made to find better ways to educate health care
professionals in BLS. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |