An interventional study of Intervention for Teaching the First Link in the Chain of Survival to 7- and 8-Year-Old Children and Placebo Intervention - First Aid (Excluding Basic CPR) in CPR and Cardiac Arrest (CA), sponsored by Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Colombia. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 8 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-16.
Sponsored by Universidad Nacional de Colombia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a CPR intervention for children aged 7 and 8. Given the high prevalence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) and the proven benefits of early CPR training, the study seeks to determine whether a structured intervention can improve young children's knowledge and skills in basic life support.
What is the effect of a CPR training intervention on the knowledge and skills of 7- and 8-year-old schoolchildren?
Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Research shows that survival rates increase significantly when CPR is performed promptly by a trained bystander. Countries with early CPR training programs in schools, such as Norway and Denmark, report better survival outcomes. However, in Latin America, CPR education in schools is still in its early stages. Evidence suggests that children can effectively learn and retain CPR knowledge, and they can serve as multipliers by passing their knowledge to family and peers.
Study Design:
This is a non-randomized, double-blind controlled trial with four phases:
Intervention Design - Developing an age-appropriate CPR training intervention based on educational and cognitive development theories.
Content Validation - Experts in child education and health professionals will assess the content and delivery methods.
Validation of Assessment Tools - Ensuring reliability in measuring children's CPR knowledge and skills.
Intervention Implementation and Evaluation - The intervention will be conducted in schools, with pre- and post-tests assessing knowledge and skills retention after 3 months.
Expected Outcomes:
Improved knowledge and skill levels in CPR among children who receive the intervention.
Validation of a structured educational approach for teaching CPR to young children.
Contribution to global evidence on CPR education and its potential impact in Bogotá schools.
926 studies on the registry are indexed under Heart Arrest; 226 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 388 is above the median of 100 across 518 interventional studies indexed under Heart Arrest.
Browse Heart Arrest studies →Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the lead sponsor of 39 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
This group of students receives the structured educational program designed to teach the first link in the chain of survival, specifically tailored for their age. The intervention is delivered in the school setting and focuses on enhancing the knowledge and practical CPR skills of 7- and 8-year-old children.
Other: Intervention for Teaching the First Link in the Chain of Survival to 7- and 8-Year-Old Children
This group does not receive the CPR educational intervention during the study period but will receive a first aid intervention that does not include teaching the first link in the chain of survival. This group serves as a reference to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the program implemented in the intervention group.
Other: Placebo Intervention - First Aid (Excluding Basic CPR)
Unlike traditional CPR training programs designed primarily for older children or adults, this intervention is uniquely tailored for 7- and 8-year-old schoolchildren. It employs a narrative-based, age-appropriate educational approach that incorporates storytelling, interactive activities, and practical simulation exercises aligned with the cognitive and motor development of young learners. Delivered by school nurses in a classroom setting, the program not only focuses on teaching the first link in the chain of survival but also ensures that its content and methods are rigorously validated by experts. Moreover, the intervention includes a follow-up evaluation at three months to assess the retention of knowledge and skills, distinguishing it from other clinical studies that lack such long-term assessment.
In the control arm, participants receive a structured first aid educational program that intentionally excludes any training on the first link in the chain of survival. This intervention focuses on general first aid skills-such as wound care, management of minor injuries, and other non-cardiac emergency procedures-ensuring that no content related to recognizing a cardiac emergency or activating the emergency response system is provided. Delivered in a classroom setting by qualified personnel, the program is designed to mirror the overall structure, duration, and engagement level of the CPR intervention without overlapping its core content. Expert validation has been obtained to confirm that the curriculum remains neutral and strictly adheres to general first aid, thereby serving as a robust comparator to isolate the specific effects of CPR training in young schoolchildren.
Change in knowledge and practical skills in basic CPR-specifically, the first link in the chain of survival
The primary outcome measure for this study is the change in knowledge and practical skills in basic CPR-specifically, the first link in the chain of survival-among 7- and 8-year-old schoolchildren. This will be assessed through a structured pre- and post-intervention questionnaire that evaluates theoretical understanding of CPR and an observational checklist used during simulated scenarios to gauge practical skill execution.
Time frame: 3 moths
Plan to share: Undecided
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Universidad Nacional de Colombia