OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the skills and knowledge of undergraduate students in the health area on cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers with the use of an automatic external defibrillator.
METHOD
The evaluation was performed in three different stages of the teaching-learning process. A theoretical and practical course was taught and the theoretical classes included demonstration. The evaluation was performed in three different stages of the teaching-learning process. Two instruments were applied to evaluate the skills (30-items checklist) and knowledge (40-questions written test). The sample comprised 84 students.
RESULTS
After the theoretical and practical course, an increase was observed in the number of correct answers in the 30-items checklist and 40-questions written test.
CONCLUSION
After the theoretical class (including demonstration), only one of the 30-items checklist for skills achieved an index ≥ 90% of correct answers. On the other hand, an index of correct answers greater than 90% was achieved in 26 (86.7%) of the 30 items after a practical training simulation, evidencing the importance of this training in the defibrillation procedure.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Defibrillators; Students, Health Occupations; Health Education; Learning; Evaluation