Primary Condition/Focus: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
Conditions
Keywords
Basic Life Support Training, CPR, BLS training, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training
Brief summary
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a simulation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) workshop in improving knowledge, practical skills, attitudes, and self-efficacy among university students at Eastern International University, Vietnam. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival rates in Vietnam remain low, partly due to limited bystander CPR and lack of AED use. University students, especially those outside healthcare fields, represent a large and accessible population who could serve as first responders in emergencies. The workshop is designed according to the NLN Jeffries Simulation Framework and current American Heart Association guidelines. It includes instructor-led demonstrations, hands-on practice using manikins, scenario-based simulations, and structured debriefing. The training focuses on essential CPR steps, AED operation, and teamwork in emergency situations. This randomized waitlist-controlled trial will assign participants to either an immediate training group or a waitlist control group who will receive the same training after the follow-up phase. Primary outcomes include improvements in CPR skills, measured through a standardized performance checklist. Secondary outcomes include knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward performing CPR. Assessments will be conducted before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Findings from this study will provide empirical evidence on the impact of simulation-based CPR education for non-healthcare university students in Vietnam. The results could support integrating CPR workshops into university curricula and scaling up community-based emergency response training programs to increase bystander CPR rates and improve OHCA survival.
Detailed description
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a serious public health challenge, with low survival rates in many countries, including Vietnam, where bystander CPR is rarely performed, and AEDs are seldom used in public. Previous studies in Vietnam show limited CPR knowledge, skills, and willingness to act among non-healthcare university students. Despite evidence supporting simulation-based CPR education in other countries, no randomized controlled trial has evaluated such an intervention for this population in Vietnam. This study is a randomized waitlist-controlled trial designed to evaluate a simulation-based CPR workshop for university students at Eastern International University. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a waitlist control group. The intervention group will receive the workshop immediately, while the waitlist control group will receive it after the follow-up assessment, ensuring equitable training for all participants. The workshop, based on the NLN Jeffries Simulation Framework and aligned with American Heart Association guidelines, includes pre-briefing, instructor-led demonstrations, hands-on skill practice with manikins, realistic scenario simulations, and structured debriefing. Training emphasizes high-quality chest compressions, effective ventilations, AED use, scene safety, and teamwork. Primary outcomes will focus on improvements in CPR skills, assessed using a standardized performance checklist. Secondary outcomes will measure CPR knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy using validated instruments. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately post-training, and at three months follow-up. Statistical analyses will include repeated measures ANOVA to assess changes over time and between groups. By addressing a critical gap in Vietnam's CPR education, this study aims to provide empirical evidence supporting the integration of simulation-based CPR training into non-medical university curricula. If proven effective, the model could be scaled to other educational and community settings, contributing to improved bystander CPR rates and better OHCA survival outcomes.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSimulation-Based CPR Workshop
A 4-hour, in-person simulation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) workshop designed for non-healthcare university students, following American Heart Association 2020 guidelines and the NLN Jeffries Simulation Framework. The training includes: (1) pre-briefing on OHCA and CPR importance; (2) instructor-led demonstration using manikins; (3) guided hands-on practice with real-time feedback; (4) scenario-based simulation with assigned team roles; and (5) structured debriefing for reflection and feedback. Skills practiced include scene safety, assessing responsiveness, high-quality chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED use, and team communication. Trainer-to-student ratio is approximately 1:6.
Sponsors
Le Hong Liem
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors were blinded to group assignments during data collection and scoring to minimize assessment bias.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The intervention group will receive the simulation-based CPR workshop immediately after baseline assessment. The waitlist control group will receive no intervention until after the follow-up assessment, at which point they will receive the same workshop to ensure equitable training for all participants.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Currently enrolled as a student at Eastern International University (EIU). * Aged 18 years or older. * Willing to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form. * Able to communicate and understand Vietnamese. * Have not participated in a simulation-based CPR training course within the past 12 months.
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, or other health conditions that limit the ability to participate in hands-on CPR training. * Currently experiencing an injury or acute pain that affects the ability to perform chest compressions or other CPR techniques. * Refusal or withdrawal of consent to participate in the study at any time.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CPR Skills Performance Score | Baseline (T1), Immediate Post-test (T2), 3-month Follow-up (T3) | Skills evaluated with a 14-item standardized checklist adapted from American Heart Association guidelines. Includes responsiveness check, EMS activation, breathing assessment, correct hand placement, compression quality, rescue breaths, AED use, and scene safety. Scored 0-14; categorized as poor, needs improvement, competent, or excellent. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CPR Knowledge Score | Baseline (T1), Immediate Post-test (T2), 3-month Follow-up (T3) | Knowledge assessed using a validated multiple-choice questionnaire adapted from Gao et al. (2024), covering CPR hand position, compression rate, compression-to-ventilation ratio, and cardiac arrest recognition. Items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (very unclear to very clear); higher scores indicate better knowledge. |
| Attitude Toward CPR | Baseline (T1), Immediate Post-test (T2), 3-month Follow-up (T3) | Attitudes measured using an 11-item Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) assessing beliefs about CPR training value, moral responsibility, and support for public CPR education. Higher scores reflect more positive attitudes. |
| Self-Efficacy in Performing CPR | Baseline (T1), Immediate Post-test (T2), 3-month Follow-up (T3) | Self-efficacy measured via a 4-item scale rating confidence in performing chest compressions, rescue breaths, AED use, and scene assessment on a 5-point scale (not confident at all to extremely confident). Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy. |
Contacts
Primary ContactLiem Hong Le, MSc
Outcome results
None listed