Immediate care training in Ireland, 2002-2013: a potential link between high uptake rates and effect

Recent data suggest GPs contribute to successful resuscitation of cardiac arrests in the community. This paper examines uptake of Immediate Care training by GPs over a 12 year period. Data was collated on all courses and attenders (2002-2013). 244 cardiac, trauma and paediatric courses were held with 4247 attendances by 2069 individuals, including 1790 (86.5%) doctors. Of these 1648 (92.1% of all doctors) were GPs or GP registrars who generated 3585 days of attendance (84.4% of the total); 1270 attended more than one course. Between 2006 and 2013, an average of 219 (range 186-261) GPs/GP registrars attended at least one course each year, representing around 8% of all GPs in Ireland. A subset of these GPs has been shown to have a significant success rate in cardiac arrest care; there may be links between uptake of training and the clinical effectiveness of care provided.