A comparison of an innovative four-hour EMT-D course with a 'standard' ten-hour course.

A study was conducted to determine if a four-hour emergency medical technician-defibrillation (EMT-D) course could produce student skills equivalent to a "standard" ten-hour EMT-D course. Two matched groups of EMTs were established, one of which was instructed by a four-hour course (study group) while the other (control group) entered a "standard" ten-hour course. On both written and practical testing, one week and 18 months after the completion of the course, the study group was comparable to the control group. These results indicate that the more cost-effective four-hour course can be used, thus encouraging the widespread availability of cardiac defibrillation by EMTs.