Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training in Sport Universities: an Italian survey

Background: Physical activity is associated to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Together with primary prevention, prompt recognition and early management of SCD are crucial in order to improve survival rate. During their duty, sport trainers and teachers can play a key role in secondary prevention of cardiac arrest provided they have received an appropriate training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) during their curricular study. This is usually achieved through a Basic life Support and Defibrillation (BLS-D) Course which in Italy formally enables to Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. Objective: To investigate the presence, the type and the diffusion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in Sport and Exercise Sciences Universities in Italy. Design: Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Setting: The study sample consisted of 32 Italian Universities with Bachelor and Master-Level Degrees in Sport and Exercise Sciences. Methods: Teaching secretary or directly deans/ course presidents were contacted by email or telephone in order to collect information on the availability of BLS-D courses for Sport and Exercise Sciences students during the academic year 2010-2011. Results: The compliance to the survey has been >93%. Only a reduced number of the contacted Universities offered dedicated courses of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with license to Defibrillation according to current local regulation. Conclusion: The described situation shows a limit in the generation of a sport trainers’ category highly specialized in cardiac and respiratory emergencies: only 6 Universities organize BLS-D training with official certification.