title: Short lessons in basic life support improve self-assurance in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several reasons why resuscitation measures may lead to inferior results: difficulties in team building, delayed realization of the emergency and interruption of chest compression. This study investigated the outcome of a new form of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training with special focus on changes in self-assurance of potential helpers when faced with emergency situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a 12-month period of CPR training, questionnaires were distributed to participants and non-participants. Those non-participants who intended to undergo the training at a later date served as control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that participants experienced a significant improvement in self-assurance, compared with their remembered self-assurance before the training. Their self-assurance also was significantly greater than that of the control group of non-participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short lessons in CPR have an impact on the self-assurance of medical and non-medical personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Asklepios Western Clinical Centre, 20 Suurheid, City of Hamburg 22559, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobras
authors.affiliation: Academy of the Rescue Service Cooperation in Schleswig-Holstein, 50 Esmarch Street, City of Heide 25746, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langewand
authors.affiliation: Academy of the Rescue Service Cooperation in Schleswig-Holstein, 50 Esmarch Street, City of Heide 25746, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murr
authors.affiliation: Regio Clinical Center GmbH, Sana Group, 71-75 Ramskamp, Elmshorn 25337, County of Pinneberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.affiliation: Executive Committee of the Goethe University, Frankfurt a.M., City of Frankfurt 60323, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmid
keywords: Basic life support; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Non-technical skills; Simulation training