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Effectiveness of Basic Life Support Course

Fredrick Wambu

The Nairobi Hospital

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Background

  • Cardiac arrest in the operating room is rare
  • Mortality rate upto 50% in Cardiac arrest
  • BLS is an essential life saving skill for the OR Nurse
  • Activation of in hospital Chain of survival
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR includes
    • Rescue breathing
    • chest compressions

Video based training –blended one day course

Simulation hands on

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BLS Algorithm –AHA 2020 Guidelines

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Key skills- Chest compression

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Principles of Essential Airway Management

  • Jaw thrust or Head tilt chin lift

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Principles of Essential Airway Management

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Use of AED/ Defibrillator

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Format of the AHA BLS Provider course

  • One day BLS Video based training didactic sessions
  • A practical simulation/demonstration of BLS by certified instructors
  • Instructor-supervised manikin practice
  • Online certification exam
  • BLS Skills assessment using a standard form
  • The participants divided into groups of 6–8 participants per instructor
  • Manikin to student ratio (1:3)

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Methods

  • Analysis of post training Feedback
    • Participants evaluated instructors
    • Course content
    • Self reported skills mastery
    • Evaluation of BLS exam performance

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Instructors Evaluation

​

Statement

Yes

No

​

My instructor provided instruction and help during my skills practice section

438 (97.3%)

12(2.7%)

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Answered all my questions before my skills test

447(99.3%)

3(0.7%)

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Was professional and courteous to students

438 (97.3%)

​

12(2.7%)

​

​

N=

450 (100%)

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Course content

Statement

Yes

No

The course learning objectives were clear

​

449(99.7%)

1(0.22%)

The content in the video was presented clearly

444(98.6%)

6(1.33%)

The equipment was clean and in good working order

450(100%

0

N=

450

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Mastery of the course

​

Statement

Yes

No

​

The course prepared me to successfully pass the skills station

441(98%)

9(2%)

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I am confident that I can use the skills the course taught me

450(100%)

0

​

I will respond in an emergency because of the skills I learned in this course

450(100%)

0

​

I took this course to Earn CPD Points

398(88.4)

11.6%

​

N

450

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BLS Exam performance

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Discussion

  • Participants perceptions to the course were measured using a BLS course evaluation form adopted from the American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Reactions to the BLS program were overwhelmingly positive
  • Participants were pleased with the skills they obtained during the course.
  • Self reported mastery of BLS Skills is high
  • Literature revealed remarkable deterioration in CPR knowledge during the first 8-weeks after training

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Conclusions

  • Healthcare professionals lose up to 50% of their knowledge within the first 3-months of training
  • To ensure the delivery of high-quality CPR, frequent updating of CPR skills and knowledge is imperative

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References

  • Bukiran, Aytac, et al. “Retention of nurses’ knowledge after basic life support and advanced cardiac life support training at immediate, 6-month, and 12-month post-training intervals: a longitudinal study of nurses in Turkey.” Journal of Emergency Nursing, Vol. 40, No. 2, 2014, pp. 146-52.
  • Abolfotouh, Mostafa A., et al. “Impact of basic life-support training on the attitudes of health-care workers toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation.” BMC Health Services Research, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2017, p. 674
  • Aranzábal-Alegría, German, et al. “Factors influencing the level of knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hospitals in Peru.” Colombian Journal of Anesthesiology, Vol. 45, No. 2, 2017, pp. 114-21.