<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0019_s_006"><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>A low proportion of bystanders in Slovenia are willing to provide resuscitation to people experiencing cardiac arrest. We measured knowledge acquired after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training among Slovenian children in the final three grades of primary school.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0019_s_007"><h3>Methods</h3>
<p>This pre- and post-test cohort study included 566 schoolchildren aged 12–15 years. From April to May 2018, we administered a 15-item questionnaire to children in 15 primary schools, to assess the effects of theoretical and practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation at 1–2 months after training. Data were processed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0019_s_008"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>A significantly greater level of post-training knowledge was noted in all three equally sized school grade groups (p=0.001). The youngest group (mean age 12.5 years) exhibited the greatest increase in knowledge, with test scores increasing by an average 2.65 (range 0–15) points. Age (p=0.001), body mass index (p=0.037), female sex (p=0.006), and previous resuscitation training (p=0.024) were significant independent predictors of pre-training knowledge level. Sex was the only predictor significantly influencing knowledge levels after training (p=0.002); girls scored up to 0.7 points higher than boys, both before and after training.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0019_s_009"><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Among Slovenian schoolchildren aged 12–15 years, a significantly improved level of theoretical knowledge was demonstrated after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The introduction of cardiopulmonary training may be most effective in children aged 12.5 years (seventh graders). Early, compulsory resuscitation training might reduce social barriers to performing resuscitation, which may eventually translate into better post-cardiac arrest outcomes.</p></sec></abstract>

Introduction
A low proportion of bystanders in Slovenia are willing to provide resuscitation to people experiencing cardiac arrest. We measured knowledge acquired after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training among Slovenian children in the final three grades of primary school.
Methods
This pre- and post-test cohort study included 566 schoolchildren aged 12–15 years. From April to May 2018, we administered a 15-item questionnaire to children in 15 primary schools, to assess the effects of theoretical and practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation at 1–2 months after training. Data were processed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.
Results
A significantly greater level of post-training knowledge was noted in all three equally sized school grade groups (p=0.001). The youngest group (mean age 12.5 years) exhibited the greatest increase in knowledge, with test scores increasing by an average 2.65 (range 0–15) points. Age (p=0.001), body mass index (p=0.037), female sex (p=0.006), and previous resuscitation training (p=0.024) were significant independent predictors of pre-training knowledge level. Sex was the only predictor significantly influencing knowledge levels after training (p=0.002); girls scored up to 0.7 points higher than boys, both before and after training.
Conclusions
Among Slovenian schoolchildren aged 12–15 years, a significantly improved level of theoretical knowledge was demonstrated after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The introduction of cardiopulmonary training may be most effective in children aged 12.5 years (seventh graders). Early, compulsory resuscitation training might reduce social barriers to performing resuscitation, which may eventually translate into better post-cardiac arrest outcomes.

Effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with automated external defibrillator training among schoolchildren in Slovenia: A pre- and post-test cohort study

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Učinki izobraževanja o temeljnih postopkih oživljanja z uporabo avtomatskega zunanjega defibrilatorja med osnovnošolci v Sloveniji – Kohortna raziskava tipa »pred–po«

Introduction
A low proportion of bystanders in Slovenia are willing to provide resuscitation to people experiencing cardiac arrest. We measured knowledge...

Effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with automated external defibrillator training among schoolchildren in Slovenia: A pre- and post-test cohort study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 18, 2021

Page range: 131 - 137

Received: Sep 25, 2020

Accepted: Feb 18, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0019

Keywords
cardiac arrest, basic life support, CPR, AED, nurses, education

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with automated external defibrillator training among schoolchildren in Slovenia: A pre- and post-test cohort study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 18, 2021

Page range: 131 - 137

Received: Sep 25, 2020

Accepted: Feb 18, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0019

Keywordscardiac arrest, basic life support, CPR, AED, nurses, education

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
cardiac arrest, basic life support, CPR, AED, nurses, education