Comparison of an interactive CD-based and traditional instructor-led Basic Life Support skills training for nurses

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Resuscitation Science

Background:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) is crucial for resuscitation, yet traditional training methods face limitations in effectiveness and resource intensity.
• Existing studies indicate challenges in BLS training outcomes for both healthcare professionals and the general public.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive CD-based BLS training program with unsupervised manikin practice.
• To compare the CD-based program against a traditional instructor-led BLS training program with supervised practice.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, post-test with follow-up design was employed.
• Two cohorts were studied: Novice undergraduate Nursing students (n=187) and Practising Nurses (n=107).
• BLS skill outcomes were assessed at one and eight weeks post-training.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in BLS skills were found between the CD-based and traditional training methods at either time point.
• A decline in BLS skill proficiency was observed between one and eight weeks post-training for both groups.
• Overall competence levels in BLS skills were suboptimal across both training modalities.

Conclusions:

• The equivalence of CD-based and traditional BLS training warrants further investigation, potentially due to study design limitations.
• The suboptimal skill retention and competence levels underscore the urgent need for developing and evaluating novel BLS training programs.
• Future training initiatives must aim for higher competence rates and sustained skill retention in Basic Life Support.