Research Day
TEACHER TRIAL: TEACHING EFFECTIVE CPR TO 4TH AND 5TH GRADE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2021
Abstract
Bavkground: Cardiac arrests are a leading cause of mortality in the US. Many states have CPR training requirements for high school graduation. There is a paucity of research on CPR education and assessment in elementary students. We hypothesized that 4th and 5th grade students could attain the knowledge of, and be physically equipped to provide, hands-only CPR.
Methods: Students were taught basic resuscitation physiology and hands-only CPR using videos and inflatable CPR manikins. Knowledge gain was assessed by a thirteen-question pre-test and 2-week post-test, at which time students also performed 1-minute of hands-only CPR on an adult manikin. CPR skills were assessed by an eleven-step checklist and manikin software analyzing compression effectiveness. A secondary analysis evaluated association between compression effectiveness and age, gender, and BMI.
Results: 358 students completed the study. On average, students answered 1.1 more questions correctly on the post-test than the pre-test (P<0.0001). Self-reported CPR knowledge increased from 45% to 97%. At least 8 resuscitation steps were completed by 72% (95% CI, 68-77%) of students. 76% (95% CI, 71-80%) of students were able to deliver at least half of their compressions effectively. Age, but not gender or BMI, was significantly associated with compression effectiveness (P<0.0001).
Conclusions: Most students were able to learn hands-only CPR and apply the knowledge in a simulated cardiac arrest and deliver effective chest compressions. Following the intervention, the students felt more prepared and were more willing to do CPR. It would be reasonable for older elementary students to be taught hands-only CPR.