A survey of resuscitation training in Canadian undergraduate medical programs.

OBJECTIVES

To establish a national profile of undergraduate training in resuscitation at Canadian medical schools, to compare the resuscitation training programs of the schools and to determine the cost of teaching seven resuscitation courses.

DESIGN

Mail survey in 1989 and follow-up telephone interviews in 1991 to update and verify the information.

SUBJECTS

The undergraduate deans of the 16 Canadian medical schools.

INTERVENTION

The mail survey asked five questions: (a) Is completion of a standard first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course a requirement for admission to medical school? (b) Are these courses and those in basic and advanced cardiac, trauma and neurologic life support for children and adults provided to undergraduate students? (c) During which undergraduate year are these courses offered? (d) Is their successful completion required for graduation? and (e) Who funds the training courses?

RESULTS

The medical schools placed emphasis on the seven courses differently. More than half the schools required the completion of courses before admission or taught some courses but did not require the completion of the courses for graduation. On average, fewer than three of the seven courses were taught, and the completion of fewer than two was required for graduation. About half of the courses were funded by the universities. The annual projected maximum cost of teaching the seven courses was $1790 per medical student.

CONCLUSION

The seven resuscitation courses have not been fully implemented at the undergraduate level in Canadian medical schools.