Basic resuscitation skills of medical students - a monocenter randomized simulation trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Background:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) is a critical skill for healthcare professionals.
• Assessing BLS competence in medical students is essential for patient safety.
• Previous studies indicate variability in resuscitation skills among trainees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the resuscitation skills of medical students at Brandenburg Model Medical School.
• To assess the recognition of resuscitation situations and the performance of BLS.
• To identify factors influencing resuscitation competence in students.

Main Methods:

• 102 students participated in randomized simulation scenarios using a resuscitation dummy.
• Scenarios included unconsciousness with physiological breathing, gasping, and apnea.
• Primary endpoint: correct decision for/against resuscitation; Secondary: quality, self-assessment, experience.

Main Results:

• High risk of incorrectly omitted or performed resuscitation (OR 3.4).
• Highest error rates in unconsciousness and gasping scenarios.
• Significant discrepancy between self-assessed and actual resuscitation competence.

Conclusions:

• Medical students exhibit significant uncertainty in recognizing resuscitation situations.
• Resuscitation competence remains poor even with extensive training and prior healthcare experience.
• Curriculum improvements are needed to enhance BLS skills in medical education.