• Karen Birckelbaw Kopacek, Anna Legreid Dopp, John M Dopp, Orly Vardeny, and J Jason Sims.
• University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA. kjkopacek@pharmacy.wisc.edu
• Am J Pharm Educ. 2010 Aug 10; 74 (6): 109.

ObjectivesTo assess pharmacy students' retention of knowledge about appropriate automated external defibrillator use and counseling points following didactic training and simulated experience.DesignFollowing a lecture on sudden cardiac arrest and automated external defibrillator use, second-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students were assessed on their ability to perform basic life support and deliver a shock at baseline, 3 weeks, and 4 months. Students completed a questionnaire to evaluate recall of counseling points for laypeople/the public.AssessmentMean time to shock delivery at baseline was 74 ± 25 seconds, which improved significantly at 3 weeks (50 ± 17 seconds, p < 0.001) and was maintained at 4 months (47 ± 18 seconds, p < 0.001). Recall of all signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest and automated external defibrillator counseling points was diminished after 4 months.ConclusionPharmacy students can use automated external defibrillators to quickly deliver a shock and are able to retain this ability after 4 months. Refresher training/courses will be required to improve students' retention of automated external defibrillator counseling points to ensure their ability to deliver appropriate patient education.

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