A model of standardized training in basic life support skills of emergency medicine residents

This intervention study was designed to determine the current level of basic life support knowledge and skills of residents in a university-based emergency medicine residency program, and to investigate the potential benefit derived by these residents from a standardized theoretical and practical training session. All residents underwent tests before and after the training session. The residents were asked to perform basic life support on a recording cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequin. Assessments were made using a 10-item checklist, with the highest score being 17. Each step performed by the resident was scored by an emergency physician for accuracy and effectiveness. Twenty-eight residents participated in the study. According to the modified Berden scale, the pretest and posttest scores were 11.2 +/- 2.9 and 15.6 +/- 1.0, respectively, and the mean difference was 4.36 +/- 2.9 (t test, P<.001). Only 11 residents (39.3%) were rated as "good" or "very good" in the pretest, whereas the corresponding figure in the posttest was 27 (96.4%) (P<.001). Skills, such as checking the airway patency (P<.001), checking breathing (P<.001), appropriate compression rate (P<.003), and delivering 2 effective breaths (P<.001), improved significantly. Depth of chest compression (P<.023) was improved significantly only in residents with fewer than 2 years of experience. The training process should comprise standardized courses to facilitate acquisition of the desired skills.