Resuscitation
Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 219-226, February 2012

Influence of pre-course assessment using an emotionally activating stimulus with feedback: A pilot study in teaching Basic Life Support☆☆☆

  • Stefan K. Beckers

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. Tel.: +49 0 241 80 88974; fax: +49 0 241 80 82304.
    • ,
  • Henning Biermann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Saša Sopka

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Max Skorning

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Jörg C. Brokmann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Nicole Heussen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Statistics, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Rolf Rossaint

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
    • ,
  • Jackie Younker

      Affiliations

    • European Resuscitation Council, Educator Group European Resuscitation Council, Bristol, United Kingdom

Received 10 November 2010; received in revised form 21 July 2011; accepted 25 August 2011. published online 19 September 2011.

Abstract 

Background

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mastery continues to challenge medical professionals. The purpose of this study was to determine if an emotional stimulus in combination with peer or expert feedback during pre-course assessment effects future performance in a single rescuer simulated cardiac arrest.

Methods

First-year medical students (n=218) without previous medical knowledge were randomly assigned to one of the study groups and asked to take part in a pre-course assessment: Group 1: after applying an emotionally activating stimulus an expert (instructor) gave feedback on CPR performance (Ex). Group 2: after applying the same stimulus feedback was provided by a peer from the same group (Pe); Group 3: standard without feedback (S). Following pre-course assessment, all subjects received a standardized BLS-course, were tested after 1week and 6months later using single-rescuer-scenario, and were surveyed using standardized questionnaires (6-point-likert-scales: 1=completely agree, 6=completely disagree).

Results

Participants exposed to stimulus demonstrated superior performance concerning compression depth after 6months independent of feedback-method (Ex: 65.85% [p=0.0003]; Pe: 57.50% [p=0.0076] vs. 21.43%). The expert- more than the peer-group was emotionally more activated in initial testing, Ex: 3.26±1.35 [p≤0.0001]; Pe: 3.73±1.53 [p=0.0319]; S: 4.25±1.37) and more inspired to think about CPR (Ex: 2.03±1.37 [p=0.0119]; Pe: 2.07±1.14 [p=0.0204]; S: 2.60±1.55). After 6months this activation effect was still detectable in the expert-group (p=0.0114).

Conclusions

The emotional stimulus approach to BLS-training seems to impact the ability to provide adequate compression depth up to 6months after training. Furthermore, pre-course assessment helped to keep the participants involved beyond initial training.

Keywords: Basic Life Support (BLS), Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), External chest compression (ECC), Training, Emotional stimulus, Peer-feedback

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☆ A Spanish translated version of the abstract of this article appears as Appendix in the final online version at doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2011.08.024.

☆☆ Part of the work was presented at “Resuscitation 2008”, the 9th Scientific Congress of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), Ghent, Belgium; May 22nd to 24th 2008; Resuscitation 2008, 77 Suppl. (1), AS-067, S24.

PII: S0300-9572(11)00526-0

doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2011.08.024

Resuscitation
Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 219-226, February 2012

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