Impact of Structured CPR Training Based on IRC Guidelines on Knowledge and Skills Among Postgraduate Medical Fellows in Northeast India: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Rakhee Baruah, Reshu Gupta Khanikar, Daisy Gogoi, Nupur ChoudhuryAbstract
Background:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving skill that significantly improves survival after cardiac arrest. Incorporating structured, guideline-based CPR training into postgraduate medical curricula is crucial to standardize practices and enhance physician confidence. The Indian Resuscitation Council Federation (IRCF) has developed national guidelines contextualized for India; however, evidence on their effectiveness in postgraduate training remains limited. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of structured IRC-guided CPR training on knowledge and skill acquisition among postgraduate medical fellows in Northeast India, and the secondary objective is to generate insights that can improve resuscitation skills.
Materials and Methods:
A quasi-experimental single-group pretest/post-test design was employed. A total of 165 postgraduate medical fellows participated in IRC-based CPR training through an IRC-certified Comprehensive Resuscitation Training Center based in Guwahati, Assam. Knowledge was assessed using a 9-item multiple-choice questionnaire (maximum score = 9). Self-reported skill acquisition and training usefulness were assessed using a 3-item Likert-scale survey (maximum composite score = 15). Pre- and post-training comparisons were performed using paired
Results:
Knowledge scores improved significantly from 7.84 ± 1.96 pre-training to 9.50 ± 1.31 post-training (
Conclusion:
Structured CPR training based on IRCF guidelines significantly enhanced both the knowledge and skills of postgraduate fellows. Integration of regular, guideline-driven resuscitation training into postgraduate curricula is strongly recommended to improve preparedness and potentially strengthen patient outcomes in cardiac arrest scenarios.