Effect of an Educational Intervention on CPR Knowledge and Skills in Schoolchildren

Unlike traditional CPR training programs designed primarily for older children or adults, this intervention is uniquely tailored for 7- and 8-year-old schoolchildren. It employs a narrative-based, age-appropriate educational approach that incorporates storytelling, interactive activities, and practical simulation exercises aligned with the cognitive and motor development of young learners. Delivered by school nurses in a classroom setting, the program not only focuses on teaching the first link in the chain of survival but also ensures that its content and methods are rigorously validated by experts. Moreover, the intervention includes a follow-up evaluation at three months to assess the retention of knowledge and skills, distinguishing it from other clinical studies that lack such long-term assessment.

In the control arm, participants receive a structured first aid educational program that intentionally excludes any training on the first link in the chain of survival. This intervention focuses on general first aid skills-such as wound care, management of minor injuries, and other non-cardiac emergency procedures-ensuring that no content related to recognizing a cardiac emergency or activating the emergency response system is provided. Delivered in a classroom setting by qualified personnel, the program is designed to mirror the overall structure, duration, and engagement level of the CPR intervention without overlapping its core content. Expert validation has been obtained to confirm that the curriculum remains neutral and strictly adheres to general first aid, thereby serving as a robust comparator to isolate the specific effects of CPR training in young schoolchildren.