Training and performance on CPR in Spanish Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The Spanish Intensive Care Medicine Society (SEMICYUC), by means of his training school on Resuscitation, PNRCP, has been pioneering in Spain in training on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) would have to be the hospital service where more and better training and performance on CPR was made. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, the PNRCP made a survey of national scope between the Spanish ICUs. Materials and methods: The survey was sent to 200 Spanish ICUs. The survey contained sections that made reference to, general hospital and ICU characteristics, professional competences of ICU members, welfare activities related to Resuscitation (participation in CPR team, postcardiac arrest protocol, hypothermia, cardiac arrest registry), training on CPR received by hospital and ICU staff, and training on CPR provided by ICU staff. Results: 96 surveys were answered. 86.3% of the hospitals have structured staff training on CPR. In 93.7% of ICUs one or more doctor is Advanced Life Support (ALS) Instructor and in 34.7% one or more nurse is ALS Instructor. 63.2% of ICU doctors receive initial training in ALS, but only 23.2% each receives recyclings before 2 years. 70.5% of ICU nurses receive initial formation in ALS, and 31.6%, recyclings before 2 years. In 76.8% of hospitals, doctors and nurses participate in CPR hospitalary team, 32.6% have a postcardiac arrest protocol, 77.9% perform therapeutic hypothermia and 22.1% have cardiac arrest registry. Conclusions: Almost all ICU have CPR Instructors. Most hospitals declare to make regulated training, generally with ICU trainers. The percentage of initial training and recyclings is suboptimal, but better for nurses than doctors. Although the involvement of ICU staff in activities related to resuscitation is outstanding, there are areas for improvement related to registry and post cardiac arrest care.