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Educational Strategies Could Improve Cardiac Arrest Outcomes

Suggestions provided for improving educational efficiency and local implementation of resuscitation

THURSDAY, June 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Addressing shortcomings in resuscitation educational efficiency and local implementation could improve outcomes after cardiac arrest, according to a scientific statement published online June 21 in Circulation.

Noting that survival after cardiac arrest remains low even with ongoing advances in resuscitation science, Adam Cheng, M.D., from Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Canada, and colleagues address key elements of educational efficiency and local implementation to improve survival after cardiac arrest.

The researchers note that providers demonstrate a decay of skills over time, often within months after the learning activity, indicating that current educational offerings in the form of standardized online and face-to-face courses are falling short. This results in suboptimal clinical care and poor survival outcomes after cardiac arrest. Guidelines taught in courses are not implemented in the clinical environment in many institutions. An evidence synthesis supporting best educational and knowledge translation strategies in resuscitation is lacking. In a review of the literature, key elements of educational efficiency and local implementation were described; these include mastery learning and deliberate practice, spaced practice, learning in context, feedback and debriefing, assessment, innovative educational strategies, faculty development, and translation and implementation of knowledge. Suggestions are offered for each topic to improve provider performance.

“Application of effective resuscitation education strategies and knowledge translation within institutions and communities may increase resuscitation quality and subsequently improve survival after cardiac arrest,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the medical device industry.

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