Performing Simulated Basic Life Support without Seeing: Blind vs. Blindfolded People

Santiago Martínez-Isasi, Cristina Jorge-Soto, Roberto Barcala-Furelos, Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, Aida Carballo-Fazanes, Felipe Fernández-Méndez, Candela Gómez-González, Vinay M. Nadkarni and Antonio Rodríguez-Núñez
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Santiago Martínez-Isasi: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Cristina Jorge-Soto: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Roberto Barcala-Furelos: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Cristian Abelairas-Gómez: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Aida Carballo-Fazanes: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Felipe Fernández-Méndez: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Candela Gómez-González: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Vinay M. Nadkarni: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 3400, USA
Antonio Rodríguez-Núñez: CLINURSID Research Group, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-9

Abstract: Previous pilot experience has shown the ability of visually impaired and blind people (BP) to learn basic life support (BLS), but no studies have compared their abilities with blindfolded people (BFP) after participating in the same instructor-led, real-time feedback training. Twenty-nine BP and 30 BFP participated in this quasi-experimental trial. Training consisted of a 1 h theoretical and practical training session with an additional 30 min afterwards, led by nurses with prior experience in BLS training of various collectives. Quantitative quality of chest compressions (CC), AED use and BLS sequence were evaluated by means of a simulation scenario. BP’s median time to start CC was less than 35 s. Global and specific components of CC quality were similar between groups, except for compression rate (BFP: 123.4 + 15.2 vs. BP: 110.8 + 15.3 CC/min; p = 0.002). Mean compression depth was below the recommended target in both groups, and optimal CC depth was achieved by 27.6% of blind and 23.3% of blindfolded people ( p = 0.288). Time to discharge was significantly longer in BFP than BP (86.0 + 24.9 vs. 66.0 + 27.0 s; p = 0.004). Thus, after an adapted and short training program, blind people were revealed to have abilities comparable to those of blindfolded people in learning and performing the BLS sequence and CC.

Keywords: life support care; visually impaired persons; simulation training; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; heart arrest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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