PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Background: CPR training is recommended for secondary school students in many countries to improve bystander resuscitation and survival rates after cardiac arrest. The recommended age for implementing first aid interventions varies between studies. Methods: This study aims to examine psychological (self-efficacy, interest) and physical (compression depth, rate und chest recoil) outcomes (secondary endpoint) in different age groups after a CPR intervention. A sample of 552 secondary school students from five different schools in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany was assigned to a minimum of 90 minute face-to-face CPR tuition held by student teachers. Participants were separated into two age groups (11-13 vs.14-17 years), according to recommendations and previous evidence about the appropriate training age. Comparing baseline and final test, time- and between-group-effects were analyzed using t-tests. Results: A total of365 questionnaires and 189 manikin recordings formed the complete dataset. No differences were found between age groups for self-efficacy, outcome expectancies and interest (p > 0.05). In both groups, self-efficacy and positive outcome expectancies improved, but negative expectancies as well as the students’ interest did not. After the intervention, only the older students achieved a higher accuracy (80% vs. 60%; p <0.05) and mean depth (62.6 vs. 53.9 mm; p <0.05) in chest compressions but exceeding the 50-60 mm guideline. For rate and chest recoil, no significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Regardless of age, all students benefit from this intervention regarding an improvement in self-efficacious behavior and chest compressions. Negative consequences and inadequate compression rates are relatively stable within the examined age range and should be clearly addressed in lessons.