Skill mastery in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training classes

The authors evaluated skill levels of trainees (n = 48) who were taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in “American Red Cross: Adult CPR” classes offered at a work site. The evaluation used a validated skill checklist and a Lærdal Skillmeter mannequin to assess trainee competence. Only 1 in 10 of the trainees could correctly perform all 12 CPR skills assessed by the skill checklist. Fewer than 12% of all compressions met published standards, and fewer than 25% of the ventilations met the standards as evaluated by the Skillmeter mannequin. All trainees felt confident they could use their CPR skills in an actual emergency; 64% were “very confident.” Videotape recordings of the practice sessions showed that instructors overlooked many errors in CPR performance and that trainees provided little corrective feedback to one another. The role of instructors in assisting CPR skill practice and in evaluating skill mastery is questioned.