Life support courses: experience to be considered for dealing with emergencies

Abstract

Background: In accordance with the sustained development of the national health system and considering the need to improve the care of critically ill patients, several postgraduate courses on vital support were given in Villa Clara between 1997 and 2003. Objective: To describe the experiences gained in the teaching of these courses. Methods: A descriptive study, with a pedagogical approach, was conducted based on the results obtained with the courses. Theoretical, empirical and mathematical methods were applied. Results: 221 courses were held with the participation of 4 388 students. The courses more commonly taught were Prehospital Life Support (AVIPREH), Advanced Cardiovascular and Brain Life Support (AVIACAC) and Advanced Trauma Life Support (AVIAT). In the courses, 84.10 % of students graduated; and as positive aspects are noted their proper organization, the correspondence of the goals with the expectations of students, the assimilation of the skills and practice to face emergency situations and the excellent preparation of teachers. Conclusions: The results were satisfactory, which justifies the need for a new series of courses at suitable intervals, in order to train professionals and health technicians, as well as other sectors and the general population, in the techniques of rehabilitation; all this in spite of some negative aspects such as the amount of content to be taught in a short period of time, the lack of some teaching aids for practice and the rigorous evaluations.