Repeated self-directed CPR testing enhances compression depth: evidence from a large retrospective cohort.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- 2Department of Emergency Medicine, AZ Sint Lucas, Ghent, Belgium.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- 4Emergency Medicine, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
Background
High-quality chest compressions are critical to survival after cardiac arrest, yet CPR skills decline after conventional training. Low-dose, high-frequency (LDHF) training may sustain competence, but large-scale longitudinal evidence from self-directed stations remains limited.Methods
We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of healthcare professionals completing at least two manikin-based CPR assessments between June 2023 and April 2026. Automated testing was performed using a self-directed manikin-based simulation station without real-time feedback. Mixed-effects models assessed associations of interval and test-day number with compression depth, rate, recoil, and guideline compliance. Sensitivity analyses modeled test-day number categorically and adjusted depth models for age and recorded sex.Results
Among 2558 participants (6232 tests), mean depth increased from 49.8 ± 9.2 mm on test day 1 to 52.5 ± 7.6 mm on test day 2 and remained within guideline targets thereafter; rate and recoil were stable. Interval had a negligible association with depth (0.027 mm per 30 days, p = 0.027) that was attenuated after demographic adjustment (p = 0.101). Per 30 days, interval was weakly associated with depth compliance, but not rate or combined compliance. Later test-day number was associated with higher depth (1.59 mm per test day, p < 0.001), with consistent categorical and adjusted findings.Conclusion
Later test-day number was consistently associated with higher depth, whereas interval explained little variation. Although the observational design cannot establish station effectiveness or an optimal refresher interval, this study provides one of the largest longitudinal descriptions of repeated self-directed CPR assessment in certified healthcare professionals.
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BibTeX
@article{charlier2026repeated,
title = {{Repeated self-directed CPR testing enhances compression depth: evidence from a large retrospective cohort.}},
author = {Nathalie Charlier and Nicolas Mpotos and Marc Sabbe},
journal = {Resuscitation plus},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.resplu.2026.101519},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927095},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Repeated self-directed CPR testing enhances compression depth: evidence from a large retrospective cohort.
AU - Nathalie Charlier
AU - Nicolas Mpotos
AU - Marc Sabbe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Resuscitation plus
DO - 10.1016/j.resplu.2026.101519
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927095
AB - Background High-quality chest compressions are critical to survival after cardiac arrest, yet CPR skills decline after conventional training. Low-dose, high-frequency (LDHF) training may sustain competence, but large-scale longitudinal evidence from self-directed stations remains limited.Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of healthcare professionals completing at least two manikin-based CPR assessments between June 2023 and April 2026. Automated testing was performed using a self-directed manikin-based simulation station without real-time feedback. Mixed-effects models assessed associations of interval and test-day number with compression depth, rate, recoil, and guideline compliance. Sensitivity analyses modeled test-day number categorically and adjusted depth models for age and recorded sex.Results Among 2558 participants (6232 tests), mean depth increased from 49.8 ± 9.2 mm on test day 1 to 52.5 ± 7.6 mm on test day 2 and remained within guideline targets thereafter; rate and recoil were stable. Interval had a negligible association with depth (0.027 mm per 30 days, p = 0.027) that was attenuated after demographic adjustment (p = 0.101). Per 30 days, interval was weakly associated with depth compliance, but not rate or combined compliance. Later test-day number was associated with higher depth (1.59 mm per test day, p < 0.001), with consistent categorical and adjusted findings.Conclusion Later test-day number was consistently associated with higher depth, whereas interval explained little variation. Although the observational design cannot establish station effectiveness or an optimal refresher interval, this study provides one of the largest longitudinal descriptions of repeated self-directed CPR assessment in certified healthcare professionals.
SN - 2666-5204
ER -