Features of preparation for accreditation at the “Basic CPR” station among professionals with non-medical education

Abstract

During the initial specialized accreditation of professionals with non-medical backgrounds conducted by the St. Petersburg State University Accreditation Center, it was found that the candidates’ level of preparedness for the “Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Adults and Airway Management” station was critically low. To address this issue, a 16-hour supplementary educational program was developed (theory and practice on simulators with feedback). The results of 207 candidates were compared, of whom 52 had undergone training and 155 had not. In the training group, 90–100% of the key elements of the algorithm were performed correctly, compared to 70–85% in the group that did not receive training. The observed differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05–0.001) for most items on the checklist. Thus, a deficit in practical CPR skills was identified among professionals with non-medical education. The developed program proved highly effective and demonstrated the need to include a practical CPR module in their training.