Foster parents of medically fragile children can improve their BLS scores: results of a demonstration project.
OBJECTIVE
1) To assess performance and comfort level with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), foreign body removal (FBR), and seizure management in foster parents of medically fragile children; 2) To determine if the parents' performance and comfort levels increase with an individual teaching session with a medical professional to review CPR and FBR.


METHODS
In this single cohort pilot study, 18 foster parents of medically fragile children were asked to rate their comfort level with pediatric CPR and FBR on a 5-point scale (1 = very uncomfortable, 5 = very comfortable). They then underwent five mock code scenarios and were evaluated using a 5-point scale (1 = poor performance, 5 = outstanding performance). A 6-month follow-up evaluation using similar scenarios was conducted.


RESULTS
At visit 1, the percentage of parents demonstrating adequate performance of CPR, FBR, and seizure management was: 1) CPR: infant (78%); child (78%); 2) Foreign body removal: age <1 year (17%); age >1 year (65%); 3) Seizures (94%). At visit 2, performance improved in all areas, especially FBR, where the percentage of parents demonstrating adequate performance increased to 71% for children <1 year and 82% for children >1 year. As measured by the 5-point scales, CPR and FBR performance and parent comfort level with CPR improved significantly (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, P < 0.004), but parent comfort level with FBR did not (P = 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this pilot study, foster parents of medically fragile children benefit from an individual teaching session by a medical professional. CPR instruction for this group of foster parents should include adequate review and assessment of foreign body removal procedures.
Sharieff
G Q
GQ
Children's Hospital and Health Center, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA. gqshad@juno.com
Hostetter
S
S
Silva
P D
PD
D002140:California; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000592:standards*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012640:Seizures / Q000628:therapy; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods