Peer-led resuscitation training for healthcare students: a randomised controlled study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
• Healthcare Professions Education

Background:

• Basic life support (BLS) is a fundamental skill for all healthcare professionals.
• Traditional BLS training relies on clinical tutors, which can strain resources.
• Exploring alternative, effective training models is crucial for optimizing healthcare education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of a peer-led tuition model versus clinical tutor-led instruction for BLS training.
• To evaluate student outcomes, including practical skills, knowledge, and satisfaction.
• To assess the reliability of peer instructors compared to clinical staff.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 122 first-year medical, dental, nursing, and physiotherapy students.
• Participants were allocated to receive BLS tuition from either second-year student instructors or experienced clinical staff.
• Outcomes measured included practical skills (CPR test), theoretical knowledge, student satisfaction, and instructor reliability.

Main Results:

• Students trained by peers demonstrated significantly higher success rates in the practical CPR test (56/57 vs. 53/62).
• Peer instructors exhibited greater reliability in attending training sessions (48/48 vs. 36/48).
• No significant differences were observed in theoretical test results or student-assessed teaching quality.

Conclusions:

• Peer-led BLS training provides comparable educational quality to clinical tutor-led instruction.
• The peer-led model offers enhanced instructor reliability, optimizing training session delivery.
• This approach allows for the redeployment of clinical tutors to advanced training, potentially improving overall resuscitation and critical care education.