Resuscitation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The effect of pre-course e-learning prior to advanced life support training: a randomised controlled trial.
The role of e-learning in contemporary healthcare education is quickly developing. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the use of an e-learning simulation programme (Microsim, Laerdal, UK) prior to attending an Advanced Life Support (ALS) course and the subsequent relationship to candidate performance. ⋯ Distributing Microsim to healthcare providers prior to attending an ALS courses did not improve either cognitive or psychomotor skills performance during cardiac arrest simulation testing. The challenge that lies ahead is to identify the optimal way to use e-learning as part of a blended approach to learning for this type of training programme.
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The American Heart Association (AHA) released guidelines to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2005. We sought to identify what barriers delayed the implementation of these guidelines in EMS agencies. ⋯ Many barriers contributed to delays in the implementation of the 2005 AHA guidelines in EMS agencies. These identified barriers should be proactively addressed prior to the 2010 Guidelines to facilitate rapid translation of science into clinical practice.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A new external upper airway opening device combined with a cervical collar.
Airway problems are the main cause of mortality in otherwise survivable trauma injuries. We developed a novel external airway protector in combination with a cervical collar. The new device simultaneously opens the airway and protects the cervical spine. ⋯ The new external non-invasive airway device (Lubo Collar) is safe and effective in opening and maintaining an open airway in an unconscious anaesthetised patient with a blocked airway. These preliminary results may encourage assessment in the field.
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In order to improve the quality of our Emergency Medical Services (EMS), to raise bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates and thereby meet what is becoming a universal standard in terms of quality of emergency services, we decided to implement systematic dispatcher-assisted or telephone-CPR (T-CPR) in our medical dispatch center, a non-Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System. The aim of this article is to describe the implementation process, costs and results following the introduction of this new "quality" procedure. ⋯ This study demonstrates it is possible, using a brief campaign of sensitization but without any specific training, to implement systematic dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a non-Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System such as our EMS that had no prior experience with systematic T-CPR. The results in terms of T-CPR delivery rate and false positive are similar to those found in previous studies. We found our results satisfying the given short time frame of this study. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to improve the quality of emergency services at moderate or even no additional costs and this should be of interest to all EMS that do not presently benefit from using T-CPR procedures. EMS that currently do not offer T-CPR should consider implementing this technique as soon as possible, and we expect our experience may provide answers to those planning to incorporate T-CPR in their daily practice.
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Review
On coenrollment in clinical resuscitation studies: review and experience from randomized trials.
Patients with acute life-threatening illness are candidates for enrollment in multiple trials. Whether patients are enrolled in multiple trials has implications for patient safety, trial enrollment duration, and study validity. ⋯ There is no regulatory prohibition on coenrollment of patients in more than one study. Randomized trials of interventions for a variety of clinical conditions have allowed coenrollment without any reported deleterious impact on either study. Guidelines for coenrollment are proposed.