Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in Latin-America: the RIBEPCI experience

Jesús López-Herce,Diana Coronel,Sandra Rodriguez,Ramón Moral,Martha M Matamoros,Ovidio Mendoza,Flora Ordoñez,Jimena Del Castillo,María Johnson,Javier Urbano,Lina Lagos,Carlos Sánchez,Luis Moya,Santiago Mencía,Ángel Carrillo,Enma Almonte

doi:10.1186/s12909-017-1005-1

Abstract

BackgroundTo describe the design and to present the results of a paediatric and neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program adapted to Latin-America.MethodsA paediatric CPR coordinated training project was set up in several Latin-American countries with the instructional and scientific support of the Spanish Group for Paediatric and Neonatal CPR. The program was divided into four phases: CPR training and preparation of instructors; training for instructors; supervised teaching; and independent teaching. Instructors from each country participated in the development of the next group in the following country. Paediatric Basic Life Support (BLS), Paediatric Intermediate (ILS) and Paediatric Advanced (ALS) courses were organized in each country adapted to local characteristics.ResultsFive Paediatric Resuscitation groups were created sequentially in Honduras (2), Guatemala, Dominican Republican and Mexico. During 5 years, 6 instructors courses (94 students), 64 Paediatric BLS Courses (1409 students), 29 Paediatrics ILS courses (626 students) and 89 Paediatric ALS courses (1804 students) were given. At the end of the program all five groups are autonomous and organize their own instructor courses.ConclusionsTraining of autonomous Paediatric CPR groups with the collaboration and scientific assessment of an expert group is a good model program to develop Paediatric CPR training in low- and middle income countries. Participation of groups of different countries in the educational activities is an important method to establish a cooperation network.

Highlights

The prognosis of cardiac arrest in children has improved in the last years, mainly due to the campaigns to extend the guidelines for prevention and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) [1, 2]
An investigation and education network (RIBEPCI) was developed to integrate clinical investigation and education on CPR in Latin-American countries and to create a long-term structure formed by autonomous but coordinated locals groups [19]. This network was funded by the Iberoamerican Science and Technology Program for Development (CYTED) with the scientific collaboration of the Spanish Paediatric and Neonatal Resuscitation Group (SPNRG)
Initial results The educational project was sequentially developed in four countries (Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Mexico)

Summary

Introduction

The prognosis of cardiac arrest in children has improved in the last years, mainly due to the campaigns to extend the guidelines for prevention and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) [1, 2]. To perform a quality and early CPR is one of the most important prognostic factors of cardiac arrest [3]. The education in resuscitation of health professionals and general public in CPR is an important method to improve the results of CPR [4, 5]. Cardiac arrest in children is a high mortality disease. Prognosis depends of several factors as the age, the previous state of health, the level of socio-economic development, the type and duration of cardiac arrest, and the quality of resuscitation [6, 7]. The mortality in children is higher in poorest populations [6]

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Discussion

Conclusion