Do Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Offer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Australia and New Zealand?
BACKGROUND Cardiac rehabilitation may provide an ideal environment to train high risk cardiac patients and their families in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) However, whether this training is currently offered is unknown. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe the prevalence of CPR training in cardiac rehabilitation programs in Australia and New Zealand (NZ) and 2) examine perceived barriers and attitudes of cardiac rehabilitation coordinators towards providing CPR training. METHODS We conducted a cross sectional online survey of Australian and NZ cardiac rehabilitation coordinators. RESULTS We received 253 completed surveys (46.7% response rate) (Australia n=208, NZ n=45) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training was included in 23.9% of Australian programs and 56.6% in NZ. Common barriers to CPR training included lack of resources (49.7% and a lack of awareness to provide CPR training for this high risk group (33.7% The majority of coordinators believed that lay people should be trained in CPR (96.3% and were comfortable with recommending CPR training to this high risk group (89.4% CONCLUSIONS While cardiac rehabilitation coordinators have positive attitudes towards CPR training, it is not currently part of most programs particularly in Australia. Organisations formulating cardiac rehabilitation recommendations and guidelines should give consideration to include the provision of CPR training.
Heart, lung circulation