Increasing the Uptake of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training Within Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

Abstract

Background: People attending Cardiac Rehabilitation (CRehab) are at increased risk of cardiac arrest. We have demonstrated that people attending CR would like to be taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) yet provision of CPR training in Australian CRehab programmes is 24%. Aim: This study aimed to identify the best strategy to implement CPR training into CR programmes. Methods: A two-arm randomised controlled implementation study is being conducted across Australia. One CRehab coordinator per programme are eligible to participate. Coordinators are randomised 1:1 and receive an information pack (control & intervention) and a face-to-face education session (intervention). Results: To date 36 programmes (61% metropolitan, 39% rural) have been randomised. Few programmes had (14%) offered past CPR training and only 17% currently include CPR information. Baseline data identified common barriers to incorporating CPR training were time (69%), resources (69%) and a lack of awareness (19%). Coordinators are motivated to include CPR training as they believe that participants are interested in learning CPR (78%). Of the 12 programmes to complete the study to date, 70% have incorporated CPR training into their programmes (80% intervention, 60% control). Time was the most common barrier (67%) to implementation. Brief qualitative interviews with coordinators revealed that staffing, the responsibility of conducting CPR training and a reluctance to change were additional barriers. Conclusions: CR represents a logical location to provide targeted CPR training to high-risk cardiac groups at scale nationally. This study will aid understanding of how CR coordinators can be supported to enable more programmes to incorporate CPR training.