title: CPR courses and semi-automatic defibrillators--life saving in cardiac arrest?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess the knowledge of life-supporting first-aid in both cardiac arrest survivors and relatives, and their willingness to have a semi-automatic external defibrillator in their homes and use it in an emergency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac arrest survivors, their families, friends, neighbours and co-workers were interviewed by medical students using prepared questionnaires. Their knowledge and self-assessment of life-supporting first-aid, their willingness to have a semi-automatic defibrillator in their homes and their willingness to use it in an emergency before and after a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with a semi-automatic external defibrillator was evaluated. Courses were taught by medical students who had received special training in basic and advanced life support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients and relatives, after a course of 2-3 h, were no longer afraid of making mistakes by providing life-supporting first-aid. The automated external defibrillator (AED) was generally accepted and considered easy to handle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider equipping high-risk patients and their families with AEDs as a viable method of increasing their survival in case of a recurring cardiac arrest. This, of course, should be corroborated by further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
authors.forename: Liane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sterz
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haugk
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eisenburger
authors.forename: Wolfdieter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scheinecker
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kliegel
authors.forename: Anton N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Laggner
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000523:psychology*; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology