A pilot study of Practice While Watch based 50 min school quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation classroom training: a cluster randomized control trial.

AIM:Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in schools can increase the rate of bystander CPR. We assessed whether a "Quality CPR (QCPR) Classroom" can support CPR performance by students trained by a teacher who is not a CPR instructor. METHODS:A cluster randomized trial was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of a 50-min Practice While Watch CPR training program enhanced by QCPR Classroom, which used 42 manikins connected by Bluetooth to real-time feedback monitoring. Fifty-seven students were divided into Group 1, taught by a non-CPR-instructor, and Group 2, taught by a CPR instructor. Psychomotor and cognitive tests were administered before and after training. Primary outcomes were post-training compression depth and rate and percent of improvement in adequate depth, recoil, and overall score. The secondary outcome was risk improvement. RESULTS:Post-training, Group 1 achieved 62.1 ± 7.7 mm and 118.0 ± 3.6 compressions/min whereas Group 2 achieved 57.4 ± 9.8 mm and 119.8 ± 5.4 compressions/min. The overall score improvement in percentage points was 36.4 ± 25.9% and 27.0 ± 27.7%, respectively (P ≤ 0.001 for both). The adequate depth improvement in percentage points was 22.4 ± 35.4% and 32.5 ± 40.0%, respectively (P = 0.33). Teaching by a non-CPR instructor improved student cognitive knowledge. CONCLUSIONS:Using a QCPR Classroom to enhance CPR teaching by a non-CPR-instructor results in similar or better outcomes compared to using a CPR instructor. Use of a Practice While Watch QCPR Classroom will provide adequate quality in preparing students for CPR.