Abstract Body: Background: Despite the high rates of cardiac arrest incidence among minoritized groups, access to bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and automated external defibrillator (AED) use is limited.
Research Question: How can we implement a program to provide CPR and AED education to Black and Hispanic American families within churches?
Methods: An implementation study was conducted to provide CPR and AED education to individuals, parents, and children from Black and Hispanic churches in Will and DuPage counties, Illinois. In this process, the research team coordinated with church leaders to promote and register participants for CPR and AED education. Field observations, participant numbers, training environments, questions from participants, and recruitment challenges were documented. Weekly meetings were held by the research team to discuss field experiences and address challenges.
Results: Out of 17 churches contacted, 6 leaders signed permission letters; responses from the remaining 11 are currently pending. Training has been conducted in 4 churches thus far. In these 4 churches, 65 participants registered, and 53 attended, including 27 families (6 couples and 21 families with children) and 26 individuals. Challenges encountered in implementing the trainings in the churches included religious concerns about science, immigration issues requiring confidentiality, and older participants needing approval from their adult children. Many participants dropped out due to scheduling conflicts or job responsibilities. Some parents couldn't attend with their children, though most couples participated. Despite these challenges, church leaders actively participated and connected the research team with other churches, broadening the study's reach. One participant, having experienced their child's cardiac arrest, expressed a strong desire to improve their CPR skills.
Conclusion: Family-centered CPR and AED education was successfully implemented in churches which attracted families, hence providing an avenue to increase access to CPR and AED education for minoritized groups in a comfortable setting. Overall, participants appreciated the opportunity and once engaged, were eager to acquire or practice these skills. Venues such as churches are feasible implementation settings to promote time-sensitive, life-saving skills of bystander CPR among minority groups.