Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Jul 9, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 12, 2026
Effectiveness of an Online Training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Use of the Automated External Defibrillator in Simulation with Rural Populations: a quasi-experimental community intervention study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Sudden death due to cardiorespiratory arrest has a high mortality rate and often occurs outside hospital settings. Prompt initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders, along with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), has been shown to double survival rates. Given the challenges of ensuring timely emergency response in rural areas, implementing basic CPR training programs can help improve survival outcomes.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of online CPR-AED training delivered by participants from a rural area of Camp de Tarragona.
Methods:
Quasi-experimental design, consisting of two phases: Phase 1) Evaluation of the effectiveness of online training on CPR-AED knowledge (pretest and posttest); Phase 2) Evaluation of the effectiveness of online training in CPR-AED maneuvers in simulation one month after online training and at 6 months. The sample of the study were residents in a rural area of Tarragona, Spain. Statistical analysis: A descriptive analysis of the study population was performed. For quantitative data with a non-normal distribution, the median and interquartile range were presented. Categorical data were described as rates and percentages. A bivariate analysis was performed comparing the pre- and post-training quantitative variables using the Student t-test.
Results:
Fifty-five participants were included in the study. The participants were 69.5% women, with a mean age of 41.5 years, and 93.5% were in the working population. Fifty-two participants completed the online training. The median time required to complete the course was 201.5 minutes, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 935 minutes. Fifty-one participated in the first practical simulation, conducted one month after the theoretical training. The mean score obtained in this first simulation was 7.5 out of 10. Six months after the theoretical training, 46 participants completed a second simulation.
Conclusions:
Online CPR-AED training is effective in improving CPR-AED knowledge and skills in the rural population in the short and medium term. Clinical Trial: NCT05747495.
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