The effects of teaching basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation--a comparison between first and sixth year medical students.

Full Abstract

The purpose of this study was to check if medical students of one of the Universities of Medical Sciences in Poland are prepared to do basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The research was undertaken on groups of 50 first year students and 50 sixth year students at the time when they take an exam. To have wider insight into students' ability to perform basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Students' knowledge of resuscitation was checked by a written test including open questions, their skills of doing resuscitation were checked on manikins. Students also completed a questionnaire. The results showed that first year medical students have a better knowledge of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared with sixth year students. The skills of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation are better in sixth year students compared with first year students. The study showed that skills of ventilation and chest compressions need more practice. The students' own estimation of the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation both in the first and sixth years is very high, but it does not correlate with their knowledge and skills. Our conclusions indicate the need to improve the programme of teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a refresher course in theory and skills at least once a year.

Author information

Author/s: Grzeskowiak, Malgorzata (M);

Affiliation: The Department of Teaching Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Marii Magdaleny St. 14, 61 861 Poznan, Poland. mgrzesko(-atsign-)am.poznan.pl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Resuscitation (Resuscitation), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Mar; vol 68 (issue 3) : pp 391-7

Dates: Created 2006/02/28; Completed 2006/08/02; Revised 2009/08/25;

PMID: 16457932, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/25/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.