Background
The benefits of early introduction of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to children in the last three grades of elementary school include greater knowledge of the topic, increased self-confidence to perform bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, increased helping behavior, and internal motivation to help others.
Aim
The aim of the doctoral thesis was to establish to what extent the effectiveness of training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the use of an automated external defibrillator for children in the last three grades of elementary school varies according to the children’s age, and to determine whether the knowledge gained by children in cardiopulmonary resuscitation increases their prosocial behavior.
Methods
A mixed methods research design was employed, using a cohort study prior to and after training, and focus groups. Research was conducted in 15 elementary schools where children received cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The sample included 764 schoolchildren prior to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and 566 schoolchildren after training. Three non-homogenous focus groups convened in September and October 2018 and included eight cardiopulmonary resuscitation training instructors and developers. Data was collected with a structured questionnaire from April to the end of June 2018 and analyzed with SPSS software using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Content analysis of the transcriptions made from focus group discussions was conducted.
Results
The most significant progress in the level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge with the use of an automated external defibrillator was seen among seventh-graders whose level of knowledge increased by 2.65 points (p = 0.001), on average. After cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, all age groups had a comparable level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge (p = 0.639). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training increased schoolchildren’s self-confidence (p=0.001) and promoted helping behavior (p=0.003). Analysis of the focus groups yielded three themes: (a) obstacles for introducing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to elementary schools, (b) the effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on schoolchildren and the development of prosocial behavior components, and (c) the systemic responsibility of the school system and professional bodies.
Discussion and conclusion
Progress in schoolchildren’s knowledge on cardiopulmonary resuscitation was established after the training. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge was shown to be one of the basic factors influencing the development of schoolchildren’s prosocial behavior, as it raised awareness of the responsibility to help others and increased children’s self-confidence to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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