Influence of sociodemographic factors on the learning of basic life support skills

Díaz Castellanos MA, Fernández Carmona A, Díaz Redondo A, Cárdenas Cruz A, Díaz Redondo T

Objectives: To assess the level of skill attained by participants in a large-scale training

program in basic life support (BLS) and the relation between achievement and

sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: A large-scale BLS training program was implemented in Almeria, in

southeastern Andalusia, Spain, between 2003 and 2009. The following

sociodemographic information was recorded for all participants: age, gender,

educational level, history of heart disease in relatives, and previous BLS training. The

level of achievement (knowledge and skill) was assessed at the end of training.

Results: A total of 3864 participants were trained in 199 courses; 63.4% were women,

the mean (SD) age was 26.13 (11.47) years, 58.5% had only received elementary school

education, 15.1% had received previous BLS training, and 18.9% had a relative with

heart disease. Achievement was assessed as satisfactory for 95.3% of the participants.

Age over 50 years or under 18 years and a low educational level were correlated with

poorer achievement (P<.001). Previous BLS training was a predictor of better results (P=.011). Having a relative with heart disease did not influence achievement (P=.118). Conclusions: Traditional instructor-led BLS training courses give satisfactory results. Sociodemographic characteristics influence achievement in BLS courses. Learners over the age of 50 years or under the age of 18 years achieve poorer results.

Cárdenas Cruz A, Diaz Castellanos MA, Díaz Redondo A, Díaz Redondo T, Fernández Carmona A