Factors Affecting the Participants' Skills Test Performance in a Basic Life Support Course.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Background:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) skills are critical for healthcare professionals.
• Assessing factors influencing BLS practical skills is essential for effective training.
• The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes standardized BLS training globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of age, gender, medical specialty, and residency year on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practical skills.
• To identify factors affecting BLS skills performance among participants in BLS courses at a major training center.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 participants in BLS courses.
• Data on participant demographics (age, gender, specialty, year of residency) and BLS skills test results were collected.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17 to determine influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Junior residents exhibited significantly better practical skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to senior residents.
• Age, gender, and medical specialty did not demonstrate a significant effect on BLS skills performance.
• The year of residency was a key determinant of BLS practical skills proficiency.

Conclusions:

• Early introduction of BLS training at the commencement of residency programs is recommended.
• Regular refresher courses are advised to maintain and improve BLS skills proficiency.
• Targeted interventions focusing on residency year may optimize BLS training effectiveness.