Training adult laypeople in basic life support. A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Bystander assistance significantly impacts out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.
• Current basic life support (BLS) training methods lack a defined optimal approach.
• Identifying the most effective BLS training for laypeople is essential for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the effectiveness of reported BLS training methods for laypeople.
• To identify potential components of a gold standard BLS training program.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of MEDLINE database (January 2006 - July 2018) was conducted.
• Studies included adult laypeople trained in BLS with practical skill assessment.
• Data extraction and study quality assessment (MERSQI scale) were performed by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• 27 studies were included out of 1263 identified.
• Heterogeneity in training content, methods, and assessment precluded data pooling.
• Instructor-led, hands-on practice with feedback and retraining showed apparent benefits for skill retention and attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Insufficient consistent data exists to establish a definitive gold standard for BLS training.
• Instructor-led training, hands-on practice with feedback, and frequent retraining appear to yield superior results.
• Future research should focus on standardized criteria and validated evaluation instruments for adult BLS training.