title: Do Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Offer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Australia and New Zealand?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac rehabilitation may provide an ideal environment to train high-risk cardiac patients and their families in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, whether this training is currently offered is unknown. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe the prevalence of CPR training in cardiac rehabilitation programs in Australia and New Zealand (NZ); and 2) examine perceived barriers and attitudes of cardiac rehabilitation coordinators towards providing CPR training.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of Australian and NZ cardiac rehabilitation coordinators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received 253 completed surveys (46.7% response rate) (Australia n=208, NZ n=45). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training was included in 23.9% of Australian programs and 56.6% in NZ. Common barriers to CPR training included lack of resources (49.7%) and a lack of awareness to provide CPR training for this high-risk group (33.7%). The majority of coordinators believed that lay people should be trained in CPR (96.3%) and were comfortable with recommending CPR training to this high-risk group (89.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While cardiac rehabilitation coordinators have positive attitudes towards CPR training, it is not currently part of most programs - particularly in Australia. Organisations formulating cardiac rehabilitation recommendations and guidelines should give consideration to include the provision of CPR training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia. Electronic address: susie.cartledge@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Susie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cartledge
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Dion
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stub
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krum
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cardiovascular nursing; Death; Education; Heart arrest; Rehabilitation; Sudden cardiac