Effectiveness of simplified 15-min refresher BLS training program: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of 15-min refresher basic life support (BLS) training following 45-min chest compression-only BLS training.

Methods: After the 45-min chest compression-only BLS training, the participants were randomly assigned to either the refresher BLS training group, which received a 15-min refresher training 6 months after the initial training (refresher training group), or to the control group, which did not receive refresher training. Participants' resuscitation skills were evaluated by a 2-min case-based scenario test 1 year after the initial training. The primary outcome measure was the number of appropriate chest compressions during a 2-min test period.

Results: 140 participants were enrolled and 112 of them completed this study. The number of appropriate chest compressions performed during the 2-min test period was significantly greater in the refresher training group (68.9±72.3) than in the control group (36.3±50.8, p=0.009). Time without chest compressions was significantly shorter in the refresher training group (16.1±2.1 s versus 26.9±3.7 s, p<0.001). There were no significant differences in time to chest compression (29.6±16.7 s versus 34.4±17.8 s, p=0.172) and AED use between the groups.

Conclusions: A short-time refresher BLS training program 6 months after the initial training can help trainees retain chest compression skills for up to 1 year. Repeated BLS training, even if very short, would be adopted to keep acquired CPR quality optimal (UMIN-CTR UMIN 000004101).