Bystander Helping Behaviour for Myocardial Infarction Following First Aid Training

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Acute Myocardial Infarction
• Interventions: Other: Helping behaviour curriculum; Other: First aid only curriculum

• Registration Number: NCT00954161
• Lead Sponsor: KU Leuven

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to measure the effect of an innovative training programme on the help seeking behaviour and helping rates of bystanders in medical emergencies.

Detailed Description

A systematic review on the effects of first aid training concluded that training must also include ways to overcome obstacles to bystander intervention. This could lead to better help and higher helping rates in medical emergencies.

The objective of this paper is to measure the effect of an innovative training programme on the help seeking behaviour and helping rates of bystanders in medical emergencies. We chose to test the helping behaviour for acute myocardial infarction because it is an important cause of mortality and invalidity. While the victim is urgently in need of help, delay in seeking professional help is an important problem.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-08-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-08-06
• Study First Posted: 2009-08-07
• Study Start: 2009-09
• Primary Completion: 2011-01
• Study Completion: 2011-01
• Status Verified: 2011-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-05-02
• Last Update Posted: 2011-05-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 144

Inclusion Criteria

• Course participants that are 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria

• Course participants that are younger than 18 years
• Health care students
• Health care professionals

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
first aid and helping behaviour	Helping behaviour curriculum	The helping behaviour training is given after 24 hours first aid training and aims to sensitise participants towards a helping reaction and teach participants how to deal with barriers to helping
first aid only	First aid only curriculum	This group receives training in first aid only without training in helping behaviour.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Delay time for seeking help during deception experiment	within 4 weeks after the control or intervention training	Time to seeking help was measured between the simulated patient grabbing the heart and the study participant opening the door to get help.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rate of helping during deception experiment	within 4 weeks after control or intervention training	This refers to the number of participants that assessed the victim, or asked for help, or provided direct help to the victim during the test.
First aid self efficacy belief	within 15 minutes after experimental or control intervention	scores on 6 questions related to helping behaviour barriers with the following structure: " I will do x (action) even if y (barrier)"
Impact of event	Within 15 minutes after deception experiment	This indicates how shocking the study participants found the simulated emergency situation
State of mood	Within 15 minutes after deception experiment	Indication of how study participants feel after being told about the deception.
Credibility of deception	Within 15 minutes after deception	Indication of how credible study participants found the simulated emergency situation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders; 🇧🇪 Mechelen, Belgium