Aim: To analyse the level of knowledge of paediatric advanced life support (ALS) among paediatric personnel of the island of Lanzarote (Spain) and to evaluate the efficacy of ALS courses on the island.
Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on paediatric and neonatal ALS training courses conducted on Lanzarote from 2016 to 2018. Scores were collected during the theoretical evaluations performed at the beginning and end of the course as well as during the practical stage. The scores were evaluated according to multiple sociodemographic variables describing the trainees. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to compare the theoretical scores before and after the course and a multivariate linear regression model was used to examine the relationships between the scores and the different sociodemographic variables.
Results: A total of 77 students participated in the courses, and the median score increased significantly (p <0.001) from the initial to the final evaluation (from 14 to 18 points out of 20). In the practical evaluation of both basic and advanced paediatric and neonatal life support, the median scores exceeded 4 out of 5, with the minimum requirement being 3. Medical doctors scored higher than nurses in performing both basic and advanced life support techniques (p < 0.05). Younger trainees performed better ALS (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Advanced paediatric and neonatal life support courses are effective short-term teaching methods for the theoretical and practical training of health professionals. Future studies are needed to determine their medium- and long-term effects.

M. Inguanzo Ortiz. Servicio de Pediatría. Hospital Dr. José Molina Orosa. Carretera Arrecife-Tinajo, km 1,3. 35550 Arrecife (Las Palmas). Correo electrónico: maritxueps@yahoo.es

Background: individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) are healthy and asymptomatic but this condition implies the risk of having a child with sickle cell disease or SCT and has some morbidity that should be known.
Objective: we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate knowledge and understanding in families with infants newly diagnosed with SCT after professional counselling. After explanation to caregivers of referred infants with SCT from December 2014 to May 2015, families were contacted after 6 months to complete a survey to assess caregivers’ SCT understanding.
Results: 56 caregivers (52,8%) agreed to complete the survey. About eighty percent (80%) understood the genetic condition of SCT and the risk of having a child affected with sickle cell disease. Fifty five percent knew that the hemoglobin alteration was responsible for SCT. Twenty-one surveyed believed their blood count was abnormal because of SCT. Forty eight percent (48%) had consulted their pediatrician after the diagnosis, while 44,4% have not consulted or were not satisfied with the information from the general pediatrician. Seventy-eight percent (78,6%) understood the importance of informing the anesthetist in case of cardiac intervention. Sixty percent (60,7 %) would go to an ophthalmologist in case of eye trauma with hemorrhage. Sixty-two percent (62 %) consider that other types of anemia had been excluded. Thirteen families believe that SCT can develop into sickle cell disease in the future.
Conclusions: The results show severe deficiencies in the asimilation of the relevant information by the caregivers. Future studies are badly needed to determine effective strategies for communicating SCT information and to identify opportunities for education within community and medical settings.