Effect of tailored cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for middle-aged and older adults with visual impairment: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Despite the widespread dissemination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, CPR training for individuals with visual impairment is lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to provide tailored CPR training for older adults with visual impairment and verify its effectiveness.

Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial involving six clusters and 35 participants was conducted in February 2023. The intervention group received tailored CPR training with several considerations for visual characteristics, such as video-based training with descriptive video service, a higher instructor-to-participant ratio, braille stickers, educational materials of choice, and booster education two weeks later. The control group received standard video-based training designed for laypeople. CPR knowledge, self-efficacy, and actual performance were evaluated at three time points, and generalized estimating equations were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The intervention and control groups exhibited significant improvements over time in CPR knowledge, self-efficacy, overall CPR quality, and quality of compression, including depth, rate, and accuracy. However, a significant interaction effect between the groups and time was observed in the overall CPR quality, with the intervention group demonstrating more improvement than the control group over time.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the positive effects of tailored CPR training for older adults with visual impairment, underscoring the importance of developing tailored training that considers disability characteristics. The findings also emphasize that CPR training designed for laypeople can help address educational disparities among individuals with visual impairment.