Use of advanced life support skills.

BACKGROUND: The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Provider Course trains healthcare professionals in a standardised approach to the management of a cardiac arrest. In the setting of limited resources for healthcare training, it is important that courses are fit for purpose in addressing the needs of both the individual and healthcare system. This study investigated the use of ALS skills in clinical practice after training on an ALS course amongst members of the cardiac arrest team compared to first responders. METHODS: Questionnaires measuring skill use after an ALS course were distributed to 130 doctors and nurses. RESULTS: 91 replies were returned. Basic life support, basic airway management, manual defibrillation, rhythm recognition, drug administration, team leadership, peri- and post-arrest management and resuscitation in special circumstances were used significantly more often by cardiac arrest team members than first responders. There was no difference in skill use between medically and nursing qualified first responders or arrest team members. CONCLUSION: We believe that the ALS course is more appropriately targeted to members of a cardiac arrest team. In our opinion the recently launched Immediate Life Support course, in parallel with training in the recognition and intervention in the early stages of critical illness, are more appropriate for the occasional or first responder to a cardiac arrest.