Comparison of Different Automated External Defibrillation (AED) Training Methods

This study is a prospective, randomized trial that compares the effectiveness and retention of four different training methods for the use of an AED:

A. Traditional instructor based learning;

B. The use of a personal manikin with a DVD training to practice the necessary AED skills;

C. The use of a personal manikin with a DVD training to practice the necessary AED skills and additional scenario training;

D. Watching a 2.5 minutes DVD which shows the use of an AED.

It is hypnotised that there are no differences between these training methods, in which case method D is most efficient to reach large number of people to learn BLS/AED skills.

There are two interesting target groups to reach:

1. Younger people, as they might give the highest interest after training, as they normally live longer.
2. Older people as they are member of the most important group in risk and have therefore a higher change of being a witness of cardiac arrest.

As there might be differences in the results between different training methods than can be related to age, each training group is distinguished to three different groups:

1. 21 years of younger;
2. between 21 and 50 years;
3. older than 50 years.

It is hypnotised that there are no differences between younger and older students within each of the four training methods.

• Other: Different self-training methods
  Self training with MiniAnne Training Kit
• Other: Standard training
  Instructor-based training meeting ERC directions

• Placebo Comparator: Instructor based training; <21 years
  The instructor based training is a 1.25 hour training as described by the ERC in their standard training program [ref; navragen bij Koen] and using the ERC PowerPoint presentation. There is one manikin and one AED trainer per six students. The group consists out of 12 students maximal, with one instructor per six students.
  Intervention: Other: Standard training
• Placebo Comparator: Instructor based training; 21-50 years
  The instructor based training is a 1.25 hour training as described by the ERC in their standard training program [ref; navragen bij Koen] and using the ERC PowerPoint presentation. There is one manikin and one AED trainer per six students. The group consists out of 12 students maximal, with one instructor per six students.
  Intervention: Other: Standard training
• Placebo Comparator: Instructor based training; >50 years
  The instructor based training is a 1.25 hour training as described by the ERC in their standard training program [ref; navragen bij Koen] and using the ERC PowerPoint presentation. There is one manikin and one AED trainer per six students. The group consists out of 12 students maximal, with one instructor per six students.
  Intervention: Other: Standard training
• Experimental: Video Skill Training; <21 years
  Participants practise AED skills, watching a 4.5-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video Skill Training; 21-50 years
  Participants practise AED skills, watching a 4.5-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video Skill Training; >50 years
  Participants practise AED skills, watching a 4.5-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video scenario training; <21 years
  Participants practises AED skills, watching a 9-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock, and additional two scenarios, in each of which they practice the BLS/AED procedure.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video scenario training; 21-50 years
  Participants practises AED skills, watching a 9-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock, and additional two scenarios, in each of which they practice the BLS/AED procedure.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video scenario training; >50 years
  Participants practises AED skills, watching a 9-min video in a single uninterrupted session. There is no instructor available. The video demonstrates the use of an AED; when to use it, how to turn it on, how to attach the electrodes, keeping distance and delivering a shock, and additional two scenarios, in each of which they practice the BLS/AED procedure.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video demonstration training; <21 years
  Participants watch a 2.5 minutes video demonstration of the use of an AED, in a single uninterrupted session, without hands-on practice.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video demonstration training; 21-50 years
  Participants watch a 2.5 minutes video demonstration of the use of an AED, in a single uninterrupted session, without hands-on practice.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods
• Experimental: Video demonstration training; >50 years
  Participants watch a 2.5 minutes video demonstration of the use of an AED, in a single uninterrupted session, without hands-on practice.
  Intervention: Other: Different self-training methods

Inclusion Criteria:

• willing to follow a BLS/AED course up to 2h

Exclusion Criteria:

• CPR training within the last five years
• professional health care provider