The Effects of Different Instructional CPR Method on the Acquisition and Retention of CPR Skills in Soldiers: A Controlled Randomized Trial

The mortality rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is high and it’s shown that bystander CPR increases the survival rate of these patients by two to three-folds. Several methods are introduced to improve the acquisition and retention of CPR-related knowledge learned in courses.

The current study aimed to compare three different methods of teaching CPR in terms of primary acquisition and retention of such skills in soldiers.

This study was performed from November 2019 to February 2020 on selected duty male soldiers doing their military service. Participants were randomized into 1 of the following 4 groups: (1) A lecture-based, 30-minute class session followed by a one-hour practice on a manikin; (2) a 20-minute instructional video followed by a one-hour practice on a manikin; (3) a 20-minute instructional video without practice on a manikin (video only); and (4) no intervention. The performance and retention of CPR skills were assessed using a checklist by two referees. The preparation score, ABC score, and total score were assessed using this checklist.

Fifty male participants with a mean age of 22.44 ± 2.08 years were included. The median score of groups 1 - 3 increased significantly after the intervention compared to the pre-test results. Group 3 (video only) experienced the highest increment in the preparation score (2.30). Concerning the ABC and total scores, group 1 (class session) showed the highest increment of scores (22.70 and 24.82, respectively). Group 3 (video only) showed the most sustained results compared to groups 1 and 2 one month after the intervention.

According to the results, the classroom session teaching with a manikin practice accompanied better acquisition of CPR skills. However, the retention of CPR skills is better maintained with a simple video-only method.