Evaluation of resuscitation knowledge and skills in dentists before and after a European Resuscitation Council CPR/AED course

Introduction: To investigate the level of knowledge of Greek dentists in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and of the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) before and after participating in a European Resuscitation Council (ERC) CPR/AED course. Materials and methods: A theoretical knowledge questionnaire consisting of multiple choice questions was completed by the participants at the beginning of the CPR/AED course. The participants were re-evaluated at the end of the course, while the evaluation procedure consisted of two distinct parts: a 10-min written test which preceded a simulated cardiac arrest scenario. Results: The average performance of the participants in pre-course written test was satisfactory, while the dentists who had attended a CPR/AED course in the past achieved significantly higher initial performance in contrast to their colleagues (p=0.028). There was a statistically significant increase in post-course test score compared to pre-course test score (8.3±1.2 vs. 5.7±1.9, respectively; p<0.001). In addition, participation in a CPR/AED course had a positive effect on the participant's skills, as their performance was excellent at the end of the course. Conclusions: Dentists' resuscitation knowledge and skills were significantly improved after participating in ERC CPR/AED courses.