Effect of Contact-Restricted Basic Life Support Training During the Nation’s Contact Restriction Policy on Learning Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: Basic life support (BLS) training aimed at building knowledge and skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. During training, there is the possibility of airborne COVID-19 transmission. The aim was to evaluate students’ knowledge, skills, and course satisfaction following contact-restricted BLS training under the contact restriction policy. METHODS: From July 2020 to January 2021, a prospective, descriptive study was conducted among fifth-year dental students. Contact-restricted BLS training consisted of online learning, online pre-testing, non-contact training with automated real-time feedback manikins, and remote monitoring. The participants’ skills, knowledge through online testing, and course satisfaction were all evaluated after training. At three months and six months after training, their knowledge was re-evaluated through online testing. RESULTS: Fifty-five participants were included in this study. Their mean (SD) knowledge scores after training, at three and six months, were 81.5 (10.8)%, 71.1 (16.4)%, and 65.8 (14.5)%, respectively. The percentage of participants, who passed the skills test on their first, second, and third attempts had been 83.6%, 94.5%, and 100%, respectively. The mean (SD) satisfaction score with the course was 4.87 (0.34) on a five-point Likert score. After training, no participants had COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: Training in contact-restricted BLS had produced acceptable knowledge, skills, and satisfaction results. Knowledge tests, competence tests, and course satisfaction were comparable to conventional pre-pandemic trainings with similar participants. Due to the significant dangers of aerosol disease transmission, it became a viable training alternative. TRIAL REGISTRATION: TCTR20210503001 (Thai Clinical Trials Registry).