The effect of multi-media educational software on learning basic principles of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in Nursing Students

Lack of facilities, experienced teachers and choosing appropriate teaching method have always been among the challenges of holding CPR courses. The aim of this study was determining “the effect of multi- media educational software on learning basic principles of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in nursing students”. This is a quasi- experimental study which was conducted in 2013. The study population included 70 nursing students in fifth and sixth semester of Islamic Azad University of Karaj. The samples were divided into two lecture and practical training (35) and multi-media education and practical training (35) groups through blocked random method. Theoretical education of CPR basic principles was done by lecturing in the first group and by multi-media educational software in the second group. Practical training was done similarly in both groups through 2 sessions working on mannequins. After a week, written exam was taken from the both groups by using basic life support skills questionnaire and after two weeks, practical test was taken based on the standard checklist and also Objective Station Clinical Evaluation (OSCE). Data was analyzed in SPSS 18 software by using independent t-test, chi- square and Mann-Whitney U. The knowledge mean score in the intervention group (16.20±2.02) was significantly higher than the control group (12.57±2.60) (p<0.001). In the scope of practice, there was no significant statistical difference between the two groups in the practical areas of patient’s assessment (p=0.056), opening the airway and respiration (p=0.13) and cardiac massage (p=0.36). The results of the present study indicated that providing content in the form of multimedia software can improve nursing student's knowledge more than lecturing and simulation, but it is not effective in improving student's psychomotor performance. Therefore, using objective methods and clinical education are recommended for improving CPR psychomotor skills.