Blended vs Conventional Training for ACLS

Blended Learning Approach Versus Conventional Training in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

The investigators conducted a stratified randomized controlled trial with an embedded cost-effectiveness analysis at a tertiary hospital in China. Participants were randomized to either traditional instructor-led ACLS training (ILT ACLS) or blended-learning HeartCode ACLS training (HC ACLS). The primary outcome was the overall first-attempt ACLS certification pass rate. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the institutional perspective using certification pass rate as the effectiveness measure. Costs estimation included program delivery costs and productivity losses associated with participant training time.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: HeartCode ACLS Blended Learning; Behavioral: Instructor-Led ACLS Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 95
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai Municipality
    • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200120
      • Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated To Tongji University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Second-year resident physicians and nurses
• Working in the emergency, critical care, or anesthesiology departments
• Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• No prior Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training
• Physical ability to perform chest compressions, bag-mask ventilation, and defibrillation
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals without a valid BLS certification

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HeartCode ACLS; Participants received blended-learning HeartCode ACLS training, which combines online self-paced modules with hands-on practice sessions.	Behavioral: HeartCode ACLS Blended Learning; A blended-learning ACLS course combining online HeartCode self-paced modules with instructor-facilitated hands-on practice sessions.
Active Comparator: Instructor-Led ACLS Training; Participants received traditional instructor-led ACLS training (ILT ACLS) delivered entirely in-person by certified instructors.	Behavioral: Instructor-Led ACLS Training; A traditional, entirely in-person ACLS course delivered by certified instructors, following standard American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, without online pre-learning components.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall First-Attempt ACLS Certification Pass Rate	The proportion of participants who pass the ACLS certification examination on their first attempt after completing the assigned training program.	Up to 2 days.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
First-Attempt Pass Rate for Individual Assessments	Proportion of participants who pass each of the three individual assessments (high-quality BLS, airway management, and Megacode) on the first attempt.	Up to 2 days.
CPR Quality - Compression Depth	Mean chest compression depth (mm) recorded during Megacode assessment, measured by high-fidelity manikin with QCPR technology.	Up to 2 days.
CPR Quality - Compression Rate	Mean chest compression rate (compressions per minute) recorded during Megacode assessment.	Up to 2 days.
CPR Quality - Chest Recoil	Proportion of compressions with adequate chest recoil (percentage) recorded during Megacode assessment.	Up to 2 days.
Training Cost per Participant	Mean total training cost per participant (in RMB), including program delivery costs (equipment, facilities, materials, personnel) and productivity losses.	Through study completion, an average of 6 months.
Participant Satisfaction	Learner satisfaction measured using the AHA ACLS Classroom Course Evaluation Form, completed immediately after course completion.	Up to 2 days.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University
• Collaborators: Tongji University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Min Ding, MMED, Department of Post-Graduate Education, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 26, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 26, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Simulation; Cost-Effectiveness; Online Learning; Blended Learning
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024YS-296; 2026-0345-YB-05 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Tongji University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the informed consent did not include provisions for data sharing. Additionally, data sharing is restricted by applicable Chinese privacy laws (Personal Information Protection Law) regarding personal performance data. Given the single-center design and moderate sample size, the generalizability of the data is limited, and the study does not involve investigational products or regulatory submission.

Drug and device information, study documents

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