Pedagogical Aspects on Education in Basic Life Support: A Cluster Randomized Trial on Effectiveness, Comparing Different Educational Methods for Adults in the Society of Sweden.

Introduction: The single most important factor for survival from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is to minimize the time from cardiac arrest to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to provide an electric chock through the heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Early start with CPR-AED increases the chance of survival two to four times. It is therefore important that as many people as possible have knowledge to quickly identify SCA and to start CPR-AED.

In this research, education efforts are directed for the adult public at workplaces in Sweden. The Investigator have designed an intervention in accordance to guidelines from European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the Swedish national education for Basic Life Support (BLS).

This is a cluster randomized trial primarily comparing in the first study, instructor-led training as the control group and self-learning training as the experimental group. In the second study the Investigator plan to compare a preparatory web-education on CVD before the BLS training versus no web-education before the BLS. The Investigator have conducted quality tests on practical skills on BLS, administered questionnaires to the participants about theoretical knowledge, self-assessed confidence and willingness to act in a real-life SCA situation. It is crucial to be able to identify factors that affect knowledge and retention after BLS training and the willingness to intervene in an acute situation.

Background: With modern IT technology, several different options and learning strategies are available. At the same time pedagogical thoughts have emerged on learning. Education can be instructor-led or self-directed and with preparatory courses for theoretical knowledge. The quality of BLS skills and theoretical knowledge can be measured through validated instruments. Against this background, the research goal is to identify how the study can improve retention and which training methods for BLS that should be recommended for the public in the future.

Objectives: The overall objective is to increase survival from OHCA. The aim is to identify factors that affect retention and contributes to intended practical skills, theoretical knowledge and willingness to act after BLS training and whether these goals are affected by the type of training intervention.