COMPETENCE
|
Simply put it means that you are able to perform the skills required. And it usually entails a score which relates to a specific level of accuracy. Being competent means that you are able to perform.
To know whether a person is able to perform correctly, that person must be evaluated. The evaluation should be based on evidence that the person provides when they try to perform the skills. A good evaluation would not rest on the opinion of a person. At best it should be objective and relate to a measurement of specific parameters.
SmartMan is an excellent way for an individual to train for competence and offers an accurate, objective measure of how a person performs as well.
Now that research has shown that there is a link to how well a responder performs CPR and the chances that a victim will survive, there has been a renewed focus on CPR skills.
|
EVIDENCE BASED ASSESSMENT
|
This means that when you are assessed on how you perform chest compressions, ventilations or CPR, you must perform an action which then is measured. This is then used as evidence that you have learned the required skills.
Overall Score: CPR is performed for the good of the victim. It is how well all of the skills are performed together which matters. Thus SmartMan provides a total score.
Sub Skill Score: Yet on a training level or a post performance analysis, it can be helpful to understand how specific sub-skills were performed correctly or incorrectly. Thus SmartMan provides a detailed analysis of each sub-skill as well.
It is important in evidence based assessment that the assessment be accurate and thorough. It is very difficult and maybe impossible for a trainer to visually provide an accurate evaluation on all aspects of a person's CPR performance.
If a device is used it must accurate measure all parameters. If it only measures some of the parameters, then the assessment is of questionable value. For example it would be possible to perform chest compressions at the proper depth and rate but consistently fail to allow the chest to recoil. If you did not measure this failure you would mistakenly believe that the chest compressions were performed correctly. In this example that would be incorrect and the compressions would be of little value to the victim.
Ideally the person being tested should be aware of all of the parameters being used in the assessment and these should have been part of the craning program. An good training program will only test what it has taught.
|
OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT
|
Traditionally trainers have provided little if any feedback to students in CPR classes. This means that the majority of people in the field have been performing CPR believing that they way they perform is correct when in fact this is not the case. This means that old performance habits and attitudes have to be changed.
Objective measurement of all skills is crucial to the student and the trainer. The measurement must be simple to understand.
The advantage of providing real time feedback is that people how have had ingrained incorrect habits can see how their performance results change as they modify their behavior. This information is crucial to changing both practice and the attitude.
|
|
|
