Training a Chest Compression of 6–7 cm Depth for High Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Hospital Setting: A Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), chest compression (CC) depth is influenced by the surface on which the patient is placed. We hypothesized that training healthcare providers to perform a CC depth of 6–7 cm (instead of 5–6 cm) on a manikin placed on a mattress during CPR in the hospital might improve their proper CC depth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomised controlled study involved 66 premedical students without CPR training. The control group was trained to use a CC depth of 5–6 cm (G 5–6), while the experimental group was taught to use a CC depth of 6–7 cm (G 6–7) with a manikin on the floor. All participants performed CCs for 2 min on a manikin that was placed on a bed 1 hour and then again 4 weeks after the training without a feedback. The parameters of CC quality (depth, rate, % of accurate depth) were assessed and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Four students were excluded due to loss to follow-up and recording errors, and data of 62 were analysed. CC depth and % of accurate depth were significantly higher among students in the G 6–7 than G 5–6 both 1 hour and 4 weeks after the training (p<0.001), whereas CC rate was not different between two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Training healthcare providers to perform a CC depth of 6–7 cm could improve quality CC depth when performing CCs on patients who are placed on a mattress during CPR in a hospital setting.