Evaluation methods for achienement of basic cardiac life support training

Abstract

We held basic cardiac life support (BCLS) training courses for eighty medical students of the first year in April 1999. At first semi-quantitative evaluation using a checklist was performed both before (T₀) and after the BCLS training (T₁) . Second, quantitative evaluation using the Berden Score was performed after the training course (T₁) . Total score, 21.6±1.7 at T₁ using the checklist was significantly (P<0.0001) higher than 5.1±2.8 at T₀. There was a significant negative correlation (r=-0.372) between total checklist score and Berden Score points at T₁. Evaluation using the checklist was useful to estimate technical skillfulness. However, about half of BCLS course participants who obtained full marks with the checklist evaluation were not always technically perfect with Berden Score for cardiac compression depth and mouth-to-mouth ventilation volume. The application of a quantitative evaluation method with Berden Score can improve achievement of BCLS training both for trainees and for trainers.