Who is reviewing the data review systems of automated external defibrillators? Implications of flawed time lines for clinicians and researchers

Community first response and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Identifying priorities for data collection, analysis, and use via the nominal group technique

AIM

Community First Response (CFR) is an important component of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest management in many countries, including Ireland. Reliable, strategic data collection and analysis are required to support the development of CFR. However, data on CFR are currently limited in Ireland and internationally. This research aimed to identify the most important CFR data to record, the most important uses of CFR data, and barriers and facilitators to CFR data collection and use.

METHODS

The Nominal Group Technique structured consensus process was used. An expert panel comprising key stakeholders, including volunteers, clinicians, researchers, policy-makers, and a patient, completed a survey to generate lists of the most important CFR data to record and the most important uses of CFR data. Subsequently, they participated in a consensus meeting to agree the top ten priorities from each list. They also identified barriers and facilitators to CFR data collection and use.

RESULTS

The top ten CFR data items to record included volunteer response time, interventions/activities completed by volunteers, and the mental/physical impact on volunteers. The top ten most important uses of CFR data included providing feedback to volunteers, improving volunteer training, and measuring CFR effectiveness. Barriers included time constraints and limited training. Facilitators included having appropriate software/equipment and collecting minimal data.

CONCLUSION

The results can guide CFR research and inform the development of CFR data collection and analysis policy and practice in Ireland and internationally. Ultimately, improving CFR data collection and use will help to optimise this important intervention and enhance its evidence base.

Data management in automated external defibrillators: a call for a standardised solution

BACKGROUND

The ECG data stored in automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may be valuable for establishing a final diagnosis and deciding further diagnostics and treatment. Different data management systems are used and this may create significant problems for data storage and access for physicians treating victims in whom an AED has been used.

METHODS

In this descriptive study, we collected information (number, manufacturer and model) on 17 December 2010 from a web page used for the voluntary registration of AEDs in Denmark. The manufacturers were contacted and asked to provide information about data downloading.

RESULTS

There were 12 different manufactures and 20 different AED models. Five models were registered in a quantity <5. We report data from the remaining 15 models (3603 AEDs). Several models stored only one case or 15 min of ECG data. All models had a data transfer option, but most had outdated 'hardware': Seven had infrared transfer; one had a cable with a serial port. Four had a removable memory device, but only one was a USB. The software was available as freeware only in a few cases. Otherwise, a CD ROM was needed, some even with a licence. The software for the second most common AED could not be installed.

CONCLUSION

The development of data management solutions is not a high priority. We encourage the manufacturers to collaborate with researchers to develop a simple data transfer solution in order to improve patient care and facilitate research.