The effects of teaching basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation--a comparison between first and sixth year medical students.

The purpose of this study was to check if medical students of one of the Universities of Medical Sciences in Poland are prepared to do basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The research was undertaken on groups of 50 first year students and 50 sixth year students at the time when they take an exam. To have wider insight into students' ability to perform basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Students' knowledge of resuscitation was checked by a written test including open questions, their skills of doing resuscitation were checked on manikins. Students also completed a questionnaire. The results showed that first year medical students have a better knowledge of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared with sixth year students. The skills of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation are better in sixth year students compared with first year students. The study showed that skills of ventilation and chest compressions need more practice. The students' own estimation of the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation both in the first and sixth years is very high, but it does not correlate with their knowledge and skills. Our conclusions indicate the need to improve the programme of teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a refresher course in theory and skills at least once a year.