Association of Age and Gender with Simulated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills Performance in Some Nigerian Student Teachers

Background: The importance of teachers in bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the varying influences of demographics such as age and gender in its effectiveness have been documented. Contributions from Nigerian researchers on bystander CPR are very limited. This study aimed at assessing the association between CPR skills and age and gender of future Nigeria teachers.

Methods: A quasi-experimental cohort study involving 41 males and 41 females aged 17 -28 years was carried out in June 2017.The post-training CPR skills of the participants were assessed by one American Heart Association-trained instructor using a modified AHA Evaluation Guide involving four components: Scene Safety & Call for Help (SS); Chest Compressions (CC); Airway & Rescue Breaths (RB); and Cycle / min & Placement of victim in the correct Recovery Position (CR). The data was analysed using descriptive and parametric statistics with p-value < 0.05.

Results: Male participants generally had better chest compressions skills which were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No statistically significant association was found between CPR skills and gender (p > 0.05), as well as for age except for the scene safety / call for help domain which had significant association with age (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: No age and gender associations were found with the different CPR skills except the significant association found between age and the scene safety / call for help domain.