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Evaluating CPR training: simulation vs. webinars for Iranian emergency medical technicians during COVID-19
Shoaib Sarboozi-Hosseinabadi1, Gholamreza Sharifzadeh2, Seyed Mohammadreza Hosseini3
1Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Insights
Both educational webinars and in-person simulations effectively trained emergency medical technicians in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, CPR competence decreased two months post-training, highlighting the need for refresher courses.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Emergency Medicine
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated social distancing, impacting traditional medical training methods.
- American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during COVID-19 require specific protective measures.
- High transmission risk challenged conventional CPR training approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of educational webinars versus manikin simulations in teaching CPR competence during the COVID-19 epidemic.
- To assess the retention of CPR skills acquired through webinar and simulation training over two months.
Main Methods:
- A semi-experimental study involving 70 emergency medical technicians.
- Random assignment into two groups: educational webinar (n=35) and simulation (n=35).
- Pre-test and post-test assessments of CPR competence immediately after training and two months later.
Main Results:
- Both webinar and simulation groups showed significant improvements in CPR competence post-training (p < 0.001).
- Competence scores were significantly higher immediately after training compared to baseline.
- A significant decrease in CPR competence was observed two months after training in both groups (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Educational webinars and manikin simulations are equally effective for teaching CPR during pandemics.
- Periodic CPR training is essential due to the observed decline in skill competence over time.
- Both methods significantly enhanced immediate CPR performance but did not sustain it long-term.
Introduction:
The high prevalence of COVID-19 and the necessity for social distancing have impacted medical training. On the one hand, the high mortality rate following the disease led the American Heart Association (AHA) to issue guidelines in October 2020 for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on patients diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19. Various methods exist for teaching these guidelines. However, the use of many of these methods is greatly challenged due to the high risk of disease transmission. Moreover, the published guidelines emphasize protection against COVID-19 infection. The present study aims to compare the impact of two educational methods, educational webinars and simulations, on the competence of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Methods:
This semi-experimental study was conducted on 70 emergency medical technicians. A pre-test was administered to all participants, and then they were randomly assigned into two groups: an educational webinar group (35 people) and a simulation group (35 people). The educational webinar group received online training using Adobe Connect software version 2.6.9, while the simulation group received in-person training using a manikin simulator. The competence of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 epidemic was compared between the two groups immediately after the training and again two months later. Data collection instruments utilized in this research included a demographic questionnaire and a competency questionnaire in performing CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19 and statistical tests for comparison.
Results:
The results indicated that in both the educational webinar and simulation groups, the average competence score for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the three stages under investigation showed significant differences (p < 0.001). Additionally, in both groups under study, the average competence score for performing CPR immediately and two months after training was significantly higher compared to before the training (p < 0.001); however, two months after training, it was significantly lower compared to immediately after the training (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Based on the results obtained from the current research, both educational methods (educational webinar and simulation) had a significant effect on the competence of performing CPR during the COVID-19 epidemic and were equally effective. Moreover, the recall test results (two months later) showed a decrease in the competence of performing CPR during the COVID-19 epidemic in both training methods (webinar and simulation), indicating the need for periodic CPR training.
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