title: Peer-assisted learning to train high-school students to perform basic life-support.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inclusion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in formal education has been a useful approach to providing basic life support (BLS) services. However, because not all students have been able to learn directly from certified instructors, we studied the educational efficacy of the use of peer-assisted learning (PAL) to train high-school students to perform BLS services.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study consisted of 187 high-school students: 68 participants served as a control group and received a 1-hour BLS training from a school nurse, and 119 were included in a PAL group and received a 1-hour CPR training from a PAL leader. Participants' BLS training was preceded by the completion of questionnaires regarding their background. Three months after the training, the participants were asked to respond to questionnaires about their willingness to perform CPR on bystander CPR and their retention of knowledge of BLS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant difference between the control and PAL groups in their willingness to perform CPR on bystanders (control: 55.2%, PAL: 64.7%, P=0.202). The PAL group was not significantly different from the control group (control: 60.78±39.77, PAL: 61.76±17.80, P=0.848) in retention of knowledge about BLS services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In educating high school students about BLS, there was no significant difference between PAL and traditional education in increasing the willingness to provide CPR to bystanders or the ability to retain knowledge about BLS.
authors.affiliation: Emergnecy Medicine Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Emergnecy Medicine Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Emergnecy Medicine Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Emergnecy Medicine Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Emergnecy Medicine Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Je Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
keywords: Basic life support; Education; Peer-assisted learning