Deliberate practice in resuscitation training using a feedback device, and the effects of the physical characteristics of the rescuer on the acquisition and retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills: Randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills decline rapidly and rescuers' physical characteristics could impact on their performance. Our aim was to analyse the effects of deliberate practice using a feedback device (FD) on the CPR performance of nursing students prior to, immediately after, and three months after training, considering their physical characteristics.

METHOD: Sixty nursing students participated in this randomized clinical trial (control group n = 28; training group n = 32). Their physical characteristics (weight, height, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC)% index, handgrip strength, and CPR position strength) were measured before starting the trial. The training group followed a CPR training programme based on deliberate practice, providing feedback on their performance using an FD. All participants were evaluated during two-minute CPR compression/ventilation cycles.

RESULTS: The training group showed an improved ability to perform chest compressions (F(2, 115.2)  = 13.3; p < .001; ω2 p  = 0.17) and ventilations (F(2, 115.3)  = 102.1; p < .001; ω2 p  = 0.63), improving their overall quality of CPR (F(2, 115.2)  = 40.1; p < .001; ω2 p  = 0.40). The physical characteristics of the participants did not affect CPR performance in any study phase.

CONCLUSIONS: A structured training programme based on deliberate practice using an FD had a positive effect on the acquisition of CPR skills by participants, while their physical characteristics had no impact on performance.