Self-learning vs Instructor-led Learning in BLS

Self-learning Versus Instructor-led Learning in Basic Life Support Training - A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigates whether there is a difference in the BLS skills in first year medical students directly after training and three months later, when randomly assigned to self-learning versus instructor-led training courses.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Basic Life Support
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Instructor-led learning; Other: Self-learning

Detailed Description

This is a randomized controlled trial investigating whether self-learning versus instructor-led learning results in the same BLS skills in first year medical students directly after training and three months later.

When participants attend the "Erweiterte Erste Hilfe für Studierende der Humanmedizin" they will receive a short introduction about the study. The investigators will invite all first year students to participate in the study. As the study is voluntarily, participants need to sign a written informed consent. After that, the investigators will randomize the students to either group A or Group B. Group A will train their technical CPR-skills with supervision by a tutor (either general practitioner or medical student, all trained in CPR teaching) and group B will train without supervision. The participants in group B will not be allowed to communicate with each other during the training and they will be prevented from watching each other. The training will take about 30 minutes for each group. Directly after the training each group will be tested and the printed report form from the Laerdal Skill Reporter will be obtained for each participant. In the test the students will perform CPR in a simulated scenario as a first responder. The scenario is: "A male person has collapsed at the railway station." The participant should start CPR as learned in the training. During the CPR a departmental research fellow will observe the study participants and record BLS/AED actions on a scoring sheet.

The investigators will record three cycles of two minutes CPR (with five times 30:2 compression : ventilation intervals, as recommended by the current international resuscitation guidelines). During the three cycles an AED will be delivered and the study participant has to apply the AED and deliver a shock - after three cycles the study terminates.

After the BLS/AED competence testing, both groups will continue the rest of their first aid course together and the first part of the study ends. Three months later, the investigators will repeat the same scenario over the same time interval and record the same parameters. At the end of the second testing, a short feedback will be provided on the BLS/AED competence and further practice will be provided to the students to improve their CPR competence. From this point forward no further data will be collected.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 240
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Bern, Switzerland, 3010
    • University Hospital Inselspital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• First year medical students at the University of Bern participating in the course "Erweiterte Erste Hilfe für Studierende der Humanmedizin" with written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students with professional BLS-experience, unable to perform BLS, or missing informed consent will be excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Instructor-led learning; This group will train their technical CPR-skills with supervision by a tutor (either general practitioner or medical student, all trained in CPR teaching)	Other: Instructor-led learning; Supervision by a tutor (either general practitioner or medical student, all trained in CPR teaching)
Experimental: Self-learning; This group will Train alone without supervision and without communicating with the other participants.	Other: Self-learning; Training without supervision

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Correct Compressions	The percentage of correct compressions obtained from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter.	after first BLS course and 3 months later

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of the Participants BLS Competences After Test	Assessment of the participant's BLS competence by the study team after test. Rated on a Visual Analogue Scale from 0-100mm, where 0mm = completely incompetent, no idea what to do, and 100mm = totally competent, cannot be done better.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Self-assessment of the Participants BLS Competences Before Test	The participants assessment of their own BLS competences. Rated on a Visual Analogue Scale from 0-100mm, where 0mm = completely incompetent, no idea what to do, and 100mm = totally competent, cannot be done better.	before first BLS course and 3 months later
Assessment of the Teaching Method	The participants assessment of the teaching method. Rated on a Visual Analogue Scale from 0-100mm, where 0mm = completely inefficient, and 100mm = totally efficient, nothing can be done better."	after first BLS course
Average Ventilation Volume	Ventilation volume from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Number of Ventilations Per Minute	Number of ventilations per minute from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Percentage of Correct Ventilations	Percentage of correct ventilations from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Number of Participants Using Correct Ratio of Compressions:Ventilations	the relationship between ventilations and compressions from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR). Ventilations - relationship 30 compressions and 2 ventilations.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Compression Depth	Compression depth from the printed report from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Number of Compressions Per Minute	Number of compressions per minute from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Compression Frequency	Compression frequency from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR). Compressions per minute ventilation break included.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Compressions Too Shallow	Total percentage of Compressions too shallow from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
False Hand Placement During Compressions	False hand placement during compressions.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Incomplete Decompression	Incomplete decompression from the Laerdal Skill Reporter (LSR)	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Time From Start of Test Till Call for Help	Time measured from the beginning of the test until the participant calls for help.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Time From Start of Test Till First Compression	Time measured from the beginning of the test until the participant makes the first compression.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Time From Start of Test Till First Ventilation	Time measured from the beginning of the test until the participant makes the first ventilation.	after first BLS course and 3 months later
Time From Start of Test Till First Shock	Time measured from the beginning of the test until the participant gives the first shock.	after first BLS course and 3 months later

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
• Collaborators: University of Bern
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert Greif, MD, University Hospital Bern Inselspital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 9, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 2, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): July 7, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): May 5, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 13, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2020
• Last Verified: January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Long-term retention; Self-learning; Instructor-led learning
• Other Study ID Numbers: Req-2016-00071

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No