Effects of the Low-Dose, High-Frequency Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education on Nurses’ Competency and Confidence

Background: Despite advances in resuscitation science, sudden cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, with substandard intra-hospital survival-to-discharge rates. High-quality resuscitation skills for nurses are needed, including effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education. Methods: This study followed a quantitative, four-group, cross-sectional correlational approach and aimed to measure the relationship between competency and confidence when using the low-dose, high-frequency CPR educational method over time. The Modified Basic Resuscitation Skills Self-Efficacy Scale was used to measure confidence, and the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) program measured competency. Results: The results came from a sample size of 100 participants, with 25 participants in each group. The statistical analysis was completed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation, one-way Welch ANOVA (analysis of variance), and the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The study's results revealed a gradual and statistically significant difference in competency and confidence scores in the exposure groups of the low-dose, high-frequency program. Also, the results identified a strong, positive correlation between competency and confidence in the CPR skills of nurses within the hospital setting with exposure to the low-dose, high-frequency CPR educational model over time. Discussion: These findings suggest that the low-dose, high-frequency model of CPR education effectively counters CPR skill decay by fostering competency and confidence in the nursing staff.