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. 2025 Jun 5;25:842. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07331-3

Table 2.

BLS training methods

Study Training method [average duration in minutes] CPR AED use Hands-on practice Feedback devices I:p ratio a
Tanaka, 2020 [23] Practice While Watch (PWW) session on Quality of CPR (QCPR) manikins (BLS training video and skill practice) led by a physical education teacher with no background as a healthcare professional and no experience of teaching CPR [49] PWW session on QCPR manikins (BLS training video and skill practice) led by a physical education teacher with a paramedic licence and more than 10 years of experience teaching CPR [49] CC -  +  Manikin 1:30/1:24
Martínez-Isasi, 2021 [24] Knowledge acquisition session and practical session (6-min compressions in 2-min CRP training cycles in 3 sessions: continuous CC on a manikin with real-time feedback, CPR sequence and CC on a simple manikin and execution of the complete BLS sequence on a simple manikin) [100] Knowledge acquisition session and practical session (6-min compressions in 1-min CRP training cycles in 3 sessions: continuous CC on a manikin with real-time feedback, CPR sequence and CC on a simple manikin and execution of the complete BLS sequence on a simple manikin) [100] CC-V  +   +  Manikin 1:10
Abelairas-Gomez, 2021 [25] Control group: Knowledge acquisition session and practical session (BLS sequence, CO-CPR on a basic manikin, and CO-CPR on a QCPR manikin) [100] Standard group: Knowledge acquisition session and practical session (BLS sequence, CO-CPR on a basic manikin and CO-CPR on a QCPR manikin) [100] + one annual BLS retraining session (a theory-based overview of the BLS sequence and practical CPR training) [49] = [150] Rolling refresher group: Knowledge acquisition session and practical session (BLS sequence, CO-CPR on a basic manikin and CO-CPR on a QCPR manikin) [100] + BLS rolling-refreshers every 4 months, annual BLS retraining (BLS sequence and practical CPR training) [4] = [125] CC -  +  Manikin 1:20–30
Beck, 2015 [26] Peer-led group: lecture by a physician, BLS training by peer-instructors, and rotation as a class among the three stations “Assessment”, “Handling an AED”, and “Demonstration of treatment-options of the ambulance” [180] Professional-led group: lecture by a physician, BLS training by professional-instructors and rotation as a class among the three stations of “Assessment”, “Handling an AED”, and “Demonstration of treatment-options of the ambulance” [180] CC  +   +  - 2:10–14/1:10–14
Monteiro, 2021 [27] Medical students provided a BLS lecture and then hands-on training for CPR on a stuffed animal and the recovery position [120] CC -  +  - 2:12–25
Tony, 2020 [28] Knowledge transfer and a practical approach on mannequins, followed by a practical session [75] CC-V -  +  - -
Aguila, 2019 [29] A lecture and a practical session [180] CC-V -  +  - 1:8
Kua, 2018 [30] A video and CPR practice [44] CC  +   +  - -
Li, 2018 [31] A video and CPR practice [Not reported] CC-V -  +  - -
Ballesteros, 2020 [32] Theory-based group: a lecture only [60] Practical group: a lecture and practical training [120] CC-V -  +  - -
Lukas, 2016 [33] Physician-trained/training continued group: theory-based lessons from an emergency physician and CPR training, once a year for 6 years [180] Physician-trained/training paused group: theory-based lessons from an emergency physician and CPR training, once a year for 3 years [180] Teacher-trained/training continued group: theory-based lessons from a teacher and CPR training, once a year for 6 years [180] Teacher-trained/training paused group: theory-based lessons from a teacher and CPR training, once a year for 3 years [180] CC-V -  +  Manikin -
Nord, 2016 [34] App-based group: independent practice by using a smartphone application and a training manikin [29] DVD-based group: practice CPR based on instructions from a DVD [49] CC-V -  +  - 1:14–29
Onan, 2019 [35] Group A: a lecture only [80] Group B: video-based instruction and practice on a manikin [80] Group C: Video-based instruction, practice on a manikin, and smartphone-application-assisted feedback [80] CC-V -  +  Mobile-app -
Otero-Agra, 2019 [36] GAM group: a theory-based training video and practice on a manikin in teams of four students. A practical manikin competition with valuations of the results affecting the grades [49] EVA group: a theory-based training video and individual practice on a manikin. Marks on CPR test quality affecting grades [49] VFC group: a theory-based training video and individual practice on a manikin. The training activity did not affect grades and the trainees did not receive marks [49] TC group: a theory-based training video and individual practice on a manikin, with no visual feedback. The training activity did not affect graded and the trainees did not receive marks [49] CC -  +  Little Anne mobile app 1:20–30
Kitamura, 2016 [37] A lecture and practice [44] CC  +   +  - -
Kesici, 2021 [38] Group A: a lecture and practical training led by a peer instructor trained by health professionals [120] Group B: a lecture and practical training led by peer instructor trained by their peers (group A instructors) [120] CC-V  +   +  - 1:9
Pivac, 2021 [39] Seventh grade group: theory-based and practical training [120] Eighth grade group: theory-based and practical training [120] Ninth grade group: theory-based and practical training [120] CC  +   +  - -
Wingen, 2018 [40] Intervention group: Education on theory and CPR skills, and a practical CPR training session [90] Control group: Education on theory and CPR skills [90] CC-V -  +  - -
Semeraro, 2017 [41] 2-min CC on a manikin with no feedback, 2 months later, a CC competition with Relive technology including visual feedback [Not reported] CC  +   +  Relive -
So, 2020 [42] Theory-based discussion, a teaching video on CO-CPR/AED use and practical session [95] CC  +   +  - 1:10
Tsai, 2019 [43] A lecture and a practical session [49] CC  +   +  - 1:24–32
Varela-Casal, 2021 [44] The Rescube group: a lecture telling a CPR story using Rescube and a practical session on a cuddly toy [60] The Endless Book group: a lecture telling a CPR story using Endless Book and a practical session on a cuddly toy [60] The cuddly toy group: a lecture telling a CPR story with no particular learning tool and a practical session on a cuddly toy [60] The manikin group: a lecture telling a CPR story with no specific learning tool and practical session on a manikin [60] - - - 1:9
Vetter, 2016 [45] Control group: the usual health education class CPR program [Not reported] Study group: the usual health education class CPR program, development of innovative programs to teach CPR and participation in the CPR/AED Olympics [Not reported] CC-V  +  Not reported Not reported -
Gabriel, 2019 [46] A lecture, a discussion session, and practical training [Not reported] CC-V  +   +  - -
Yeung, 2017 [47] F2 F group: introductory lecture and practical training with an instructor [Not reported] Lifesaver group: introductory lecture and Lifesaver programme on a handheld tablet [Not reported] Lifesaver and F2 F group: introductory lecture, Lifesaver programme on a handheld tablet, and practical training with instructor [Not reported] CC-V -  +  - 1:6
Zeleke, 2019 [48] Control group: CPR instructional video [Not reported] Music group: CPR instructional video and practical CCs in time with a popular song [Not reported] Video game group: CPR instructional video and learning how to time CCs with a video game [Not reported] CC -  +  - -
Suss-Havemann, 2020 [49] Intervention group: interactive lecture and practical training. The students guided their own learning, and the trainer supervised. Students were split into small groups and took turns as one explainer, two performers and one evaluator. [90] Control group: interactive lecture and practical training with a four-step approach (demonstration, deconstruction, comprehension, and execution of the learning) [90] CC  +   +  Training cards 2:16–24
Schmid, 2018 [50] Theory-based video, review of BLS steps, and practical training [29] CC -  +  - -

AED Automated external defibrillator, BLS Basic life support, CC Chest compression, CC-V Chest compression and ventilation, CO-CPR Chest compression only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, QCPR Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, F2 F Face-to-face

a instructor:pupil ratio