Via Research Recognition Day Program VCOM-Carolinas 2025

Clinical Educational Research

Upstate Community Responder

According to the American Heart Association more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital each year. Bystander CPR is associated with increasing a person’s chance of survival however many studies show in most cases bystander CPR is not initiated. Only 40.8% of out of hospital cardiac arrests receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation over 34 states (CARES 2020). The 30-day survival was 14.5% for patients with bystander CPR vs 6.7% without bystander CPR. Patients had a 2.3 times higher chance of survival associated with bystander CPR within 10 minutes (Rajan, 2016). Performing bystander CPR is crucial for reducing hospital stays and significantly increasing survival rates in cardiac emergencies. Therefore, expanding CPR and first aid training across the U.S. is essential to equip more individuals with life-saving skills.

• CPR Classes held at VCOM Carolinas • American Red Cross Curriculum Didactic and Psychomotor including First Aid, Adult and Pediatric CPR, and AED use • Real time feedback given to participants • 10 question paper survey given at the end of each class

• Prior to the CPR class, 38.2% of participants did not feel confident performing CPR. • Overall, 93.3% of participants responded having an increased level of confidence with CPR after completing our course. • 52.9% of participants reported having a salary $0-$30,000. • The main barriers to completing CPR certification were cost , access to classes , and timing due to busy schedule . • Critical Need for Accessible CPR Training : There is a clear demand for CPR classes in Upstate South Carolina, with an emphasis on offering free or low-cost options to ensure equitable access. • Enhanced Confidence in CPR Skills : Participants reported a significant increase in confidence and comfort performing CPR after completing the training, highlighting the program's effectiveness. • Future Directions and Impact : Future research should explore the long-term retention of skills and confidence post-training and the impact of these programs on survival rates in real-world scenarios.

6.7%

38.2 %

61.8 %

93.3 %

Figure 2: Participants level of confidence after completing CPR class

Figure 1: Participants level of confidence before CPR class

44%

36%

The Spartanburg community faces barriers to accessing CPR courses. Additionally, participant’s confidence in performing CPR and first aid procedures will increase after completing our American Red Cross CPR course. This project will specifically identify barriers in taking a CPR course in the Upstate region of South Carolina.

50%

1. About CARES « MyCares. (n.d.). https://mycares.net/sitepages/aboutcares.jsp 2.Rajan S, Folke F, Kragholm K, et al. Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2016;105:45-51. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2016.05.004

Figure 4: Barriers to taking a CPR class in the upstate South Carolina region.

2025 Research Recognition Day

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