A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren

Abstract Background A mnemonic is a cognitive aid frequently used in health-related education. The main goal of this study was to develop and test a 5-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical aspects of adult Basic Life Support (BLS) steps, a process rarely described in the contex...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nino Fijačko, Robert Greif, Špela Metličar, Gregor Štiglic, Benjamin S. Abella, Matej Strnad, the Delphi study investigators
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06519-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841559353371394048
author Nino Fijačko
Robert Greif
Špela Metličar
Gregor Štiglic
Benjamin S. Abella
Matej Strnad
the Delphi study investigators
author_facet Nino Fijačko
Robert Greif
Špela Metličar
Gregor Štiglic
Benjamin S. Abella
Matej Strnad
the Delphi study investigators
author_sort Nino Fijačko
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background A mnemonic is a cognitive aid frequently used in health-related education. The main goal of this study was to develop and test a 5-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical aspects of adult Basic Life Support (BLS) steps, a process rarely described in the context of instructing laypersons. Methods Experts from the European Resuscitation Council’s Basic Life Support Science and Education Committee (ERC BLS SEC), specializing in teaching adult BLS, participated in the first phase of the pilot study. This phase employed the modified reactive Delphi to develop a 5-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical aspects of adult BLS steps, in accordance with the 2021 ERC BLS guidelines. The mnemonic underwent revision rounds based on expert suggestions and was evaluated using a 9-point Likert scale. The process was repeated until there was unanimous approval. In the second phase, a pilot test was conducted with schoolchildren at a summer camp to assess their recall of the 5-finger mnemonic. Following their training in adult BLS steps utilizing the 5-finger mnemonic, schoolchildren were tasked with arranging cards depicting images from the mnemonic both before and after the training. Results From March to October 2022, a four-round modified reactive Delphi engaged four experts from the ERC BLS SEC. Initial expert consensus was moderate, 6.0 (IQR = 4.5–7.5, min = 1, max = 9), on a scale 1 (“totally disagree”) to 9 (“totally agree”). The experts consensus improved over subsequent rounds, resulting in two final versions of the 5-finger mnemonic. Both versions concentrate on the comprehensive adult BLS, differing only in their approach to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): one employs a method of 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths, while the other utilizes compression-only CPR. In August 2023, a recall pilot test involved mostly female schoolchildren (12/13, 92.3%). Pre-training, no cards with 5-finger mnemonic content were arranged correctly, but post-training, progress improvement was observed, especially in older schoolchildren (Z = -2.727, p = 0.006). Conclusions The pilot study highlights the potential of using tailored educational tools, such as mnemonics, to teach important lifesaving skills to different age groups. This suggests that the 5-finger mnemonic effectively improved schoolchildren’s understanding of the theoretical aspects of adult BLS steps.
format Article
id doaj-art-45b98a0ff13746b9b86f3143812618b0
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6920
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Education
spelling doaj-art-45b98a0ff13746b9b86f3143812618b02025-01-05T12:33:44ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-12-012411910.1186/s12909-024-06519-3A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildrenNino Fijačko0Robert Greif1Špela Metličar2Gregor Štiglic3Benjamin S. Abella4Matej Strnad5the Delphi study investigatorsFaculty of Health Sciences, University of MariborUniversity of BernFaculty of Health Sciences, University of MariborFaculty of Health Sciences, University of MariborIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiEmergency Department, Maribor University Medical CentreAbstract Background A mnemonic is a cognitive aid frequently used in health-related education. The main goal of this study was to develop and test a 5-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical aspects of adult Basic Life Support (BLS) steps, a process rarely described in the context of instructing laypersons. Methods Experts from the European Resuscitation Council’s Basic Life Support Science and Education Committee (ERC BLS SEC), specializing in teaching adult BLS, participated in the first phase of the pilot study. This phase employed the modified reactive Delphi to develop a 5-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical aspects of adult BLS steps, in accordance with the 2021 ERC BLS guidelines. The mnemonic underwent revision rounds based on expert suggestions and was evaluated using a 9-point Likert scale. The process was repeated until there was unanimous approval. In the second phase, a pilot test was conducted with schoolchildren at a summer camp to assess their recall of the 5-finger mnemonic. Following their training in adult BLS steps utilizing the 5-finger mnemonic, schoolchildren were tasked with arranging cards depicting images from the mnemonic both before and after the training. Results From March to October 2022, a four-round modified reactive Delphi engaged four experts from the ERC BLS SEC. Initial expert consensus was moderate, 6.0 (IQR = 4.5–7.5, min = 1, max = 9), on a scale 1 (“totally disagree”) to 9 (“totally agree”). The experts consensus improved over subsequent rounds, resulting in two final versions of the 5-finger mnemonic. Both versions concentrate on the comprehensive adult BLS, differing only in their approach to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): one employs a method of 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths, while the other utilizes compression-only CPR. In August 2023, a recall pilot test involved mostly female schoolchildren (12/13, 92.3%). Pre-training, no cards with 5-finger mnemonic content were arranged correctly, but post-training, progress improvement was observed, especially in older schoolchildren (Z = -2.727, p = 0.006). Conclusions The pilot study highlights the potential of using tailored educational tools, such as mnemonics, to teach important lifesaving skills to different age groups. This suggests that the 5-finger mnemonic effectively improved schoolchildren’s understanding of the theoretical aspects of adult BLS steps.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06519-3Modified reactive DelphiHand mnemonicAdult basic life supportTeachingSchoolchildren
spellingShingle Nino Fijačko
Robert Greif
Špela Metličar
Gregor Štiglic
Benjamin S. Abella
Matej Strnad
the Delphi study investigators
A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
BMC Medical Education
Modified reactive Delphi
Hand mnemonic
Adult basic life support
Teaching
Schoolchildren
title A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
title_full A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
title_fullStr A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
title_full_unstemmed A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
title_short A five-finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support: a modified reactive Delphi-guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
title_sort five finger mnemonic for teaching schoolchildren the theoretical components of adult basic life support a modified reactive delphi guided development and memorability pilot test with schoolchildren
topic Modified reactive Delphi
Hand mnemonic
Adult basic life support
Teaching
Schoolchildren
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06519-3
work_keys_str_mv AT ninofijacko afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT robertgreif afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT spelametlicar afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT gregorstiglic afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT benjaminsabella afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT matejstrnad afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT thedelphistudyinvestigators afivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT ninofijacko fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT robertgreif fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT spelametlicar fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT gregorstiglic fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT benjaminsabella fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT matejstrnad fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren
AT thedelphistudyinvestigators fivefingermnemonicforteachingschoolchildrenthetheoreticalcomponentsofadultbasiclifesupportamodifiedreactivedelphiguideddevelopmentandmemorabilitypilottestwithschoolchildren