title: E-learning in advanced life support--an evaluation by the Resuscitation Council (UK).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To descriptively analyse the outcomes following the national roll out of an e-Learning advanced life support course (e-ALS) compared to a conventional 2-day ALS course (c-ALS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1st January 2013 and 30th June 2014, 27,170 candidates attended one of the 1350 Resuscitation Council (UK) ALS courses across the UK. 18,952 candidates were enrolled on a c-ALS course and 8218 on an e-ALS course. Candidates participating in the e-ALS course completed 6-8h of online e-Learning prior to attending the 1 day modified face-to-face course. Candidates participating in the c-ALS course undertook the Resuscitation Council (UK) 2-day face-to-face course. All candidates were assessed by a pre- and post-course MCQ and a practical cardiac arrest simulation (CAS-test). Demographic data were collected in addition to assessment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candidates on the e-ALS course had higher scores on the pre-course MCQ (83.7%, SD 7.3) compared to those on the c-ALS course (81.3%, SD 8.2, P<0.001). Similarly, they had slightly higher scores on the post-course MCQ (e-ALS 87.9%, SD 6.4 vs. c-ALS 87.4%, SD 6.5; P<0.001). The first attempt CAS-test pass rate on the e-ALS course was higher than the pass rate on the c-ALS course (84.6% vs. 83.6%; P=0.035). The overall pass rate was 96.6% on both the e-ALS and c-ALS courses (P=0.776).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The e-ALS course demonstrates equivalence to traditional face-to-face learning in equipping candidates with ALS skills when compared to the c-ALS course. Value is added when considering benefits such as increased candidate autonomy, cost-effectiveness, decreased instructor burden and improved standardisation of course material. Further dissemination of the e-ALS course should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK; Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK. Electronic address: cj.thorne@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.affiliation: Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK; Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Halifax HX3 0PW, UK.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lockey
authors.affiliation: Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK; Royal College of Physicians, London NW1 4LE, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.affiliation: Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hampshire
authors.affiliation: Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begum-Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK; Resuscitation Council (UK), Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR, UK; University of Warwick, Warwick Medical School, Warwick CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000193:education*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D013663:Teaching; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: ALS; Advanced life support; Assessment; Education; e-Learning