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Grubic N, Hill B, Allan KS, Dainty KN, Johri AM, Brooks SC. Community Interventions for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Resource-Limited Settings: A Scoping Review Across Low, Middle, and High-Income Countries. PREHOSP EMERG CARE 2023; 27:1088-1100. [PMID: 37406163 DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2023.2231559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major global health challenge, characterized by poor survival outcomes worldwide. Resource-limited settings are burdened with suboptimal emergency response and worse outcomes than high-resource areas. Engaging the community in the response to OHCA has the potential to improve outcomes, although an overview of community interventions in resource-limited settings has not been provided. OBJECTIVE This review evaluated the scope of community-based OHCA interventions in resource-limited settings. METHODS Literature searches in electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials) and grey literature sources were performed. Abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction of eligible studies were conducted independently by two reviewers. The PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) framework was used to assess study eligibility. Studies that evaluated community-based interventions for laypeople (Population), targeting emergency response activation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or automated external defibrillator (AED) use (Concept) in resource-limited settings (Context) were included. Resource-limited settings were identified by financial pressures (low-income or lower-middle-income country, according to World Bank data on year of publication) or geographical factors (setting described using keywords indicative of geographical remoteness in upper-middle-income or high-income country). RESULTS Among 14,810 records identified from literature searches, 60 studies from 28 unique countries were included in this review. Studies were conducted in high-income (n = 35), upper-middle-income (n = 2), lower-middle-income (n = 22), and low-income countries (n = 1). Community interventions included bystander CPR and/or AED training (n = 34), community responder programs (n = 8), drone-delivered AED networks (n = 6), dispatcher-assisted CPR programs (n = 4), regional resuscitation campaigns (n = 3), public access defibrillation programs (n = 3), and crowdsourcing technologies (n = 2). CPR and/or AED training were the only interventions evaluated in low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries. CONCLUSIONS Interventions aimed at improving the community response to OHCA in resource-limited settings differ globally. There is a lack of reported studies from low-income countries and certain continental regions, including South America, Africa, and Oceania. Evaluation of interventions other than CPR and/or AED training in low- and middle-income countries is needed to guide community emergency planning and health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Grubic
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Braeden Hill
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine S Allan
- Division of Cardiology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katie N Dainty
- Patient-Centred Outcomes, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amer M Johri
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven C Brooks
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Zhang C. A Literature Study of Medical Simulations for Non-Technical Skills Training in Emergency Medicine: Twenty Years of Progress, an Integrated Research Framework, and Future Research Avenues. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4487. [PMID: 36901496 PMCID: PMC10002261 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Medical simulations have led to extensive developments in emergency medicine. Apart from the growing number of applications and research efforts in patient safety, few studies have focused on modalities, research methods, and professions via a synthesis of simulation studies with a focus on non-technical skills training. Intersections between medical simulation, non-technical skills training, and emergency medicine merit a synthesis of progress over the first two decades of the 21st century. Drawing on research from the Web of Science Core Collection's Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Science Citation Index editions, results showed that medical simulations were found to be effective, practical, and highly motivating. More importantly, simulation-based education should be a teaching approach, and many simulations are utilised to substitute high-risk, rare, and complex circumstances in technical or situational simulations. (1) Publications were grouped by specific categories of non-technical skills, teamwork, communication, diagnosis, resuscitation, airway management, anaesthesia, simulation, and medical education. (2) Although mixed-method and quantitative approaches were prominent during the time period, further exploration of qualitative data would greatly contribute to the interpretation of experience. (3) High-fidelity dummy was the most suitable instrument, but the tendency of simulators without explicitly stating the vendor selection calls for a standardised training process. The literature study concludes with a ring model as the integrated framework of presently known best practices and a broad range of underexplored research areas to be investigated in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cevin Zhang
- School of Media and Design, Beijing Technology and Business University, Sunlight South Road 1, Beijing 102488, China
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3
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Matinrad N, Reuter-Oppermann M. A review on initiatives for the management of daily medical emergencies prior to the arrival of emergency medical services. CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH 2021; 30:251-302. [PMID: 34566490 PMCID: PMC8449697 DOI: 10.1007/s10100-021-00769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Emergency services worldwide face increasing cost pressure that potentially limits their existing resources. In many countries, emergency services also face the issues of staff shortage-creating extra challenges and constraints, especially during crisis times such as the COVID-19 pandemic-as well as long distances to sparsely populated areas resulting in longer response times. To overcome these issues and potentially reduce consequences of daily (medical) emergencies, several countries, such as Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, have started initiatives using new types of human resources as well as equipment, which have not been part of the existing emergency systems before. These resources are employed in response to medical emergency cases if they can arrive earlier than emergency medical services (EMS). A good number of studies have investigated the use of these new types of resources in EMS systems, from medical, technical, and logistical perspectives as their study domains. Several review papers in the literature exist that focus on one or several of these new types of resources. However, to the best of our knowledge, no review paper that comprehensively considers all new types of resources in emergency medical response systems exists. We try to fill this gap by presenting a broad literature review of the studies focused on the different new types of resources, which are used prior to the arrival of EMS. Our objective is to present an application-based and methodological overview of these papers, to provide insights to this important field and to bring it to the attention of researchers as well as emergency managers and administrators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Matinrad
- Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping, 60174 Sweden
| | - Melanie Reuter-Oppermann
- Information Systems - Software and Digital Business Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
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4
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Valeriano A, Van Heer S, de Champlain F, C Brooks S. Crowdsourcing to save lives: A scoping review of bystander alert technologies for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation 2020; 158:94-121. [PMID: 33188832 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) constitutes a significant global health burden, with a survival rate of only 10-12%. Mobile phone technologies have been developed that crowdsource citizen volunteers to nearby OHCAs in order to initiate resuscitation prior to ambulance arrival. We performed a scoping review to map the available literature on these crowdsourcing technologies and compared their technical specifications. METHODS A search strategy was developed for five online databases. Two reviewers independently assessed all articles for inclusion and extracted relevant study information. Subsequently, we performed a supplementary internet search and consulted experts to identify all available bystander alert technologies and their specifications. RESULTS We included 65 articles examining bystander alerting technologies from more than 15 countries. We also identified 25 unique technologies, of which 18 were described in the included literature. Technologies were text message-based systems (n = 3) or mobile phone applications (n = 22). Most (21/25) used global positioning systems to direct bystanders to victims and nearby AEDs. Response radii for alerts varied widely from 200 m to 10 km. Some technologies incorporated advanced features such as video-conferencing with ambulance dispatch and detailed alert settings. Not all systems required volunteers to have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Only ten studies assessed impact on clinical outcomes. Key barriers discussed included false positive alerts, legal liability, and potential psychological impact on volunteers. CONCLUSION Our review provides a comprehensive overview of crowdsourcing technologies for bystander intervention in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Future work should focus on clinical outcomes and methods of addressing barriers to implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shyan Van Heer
- School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | | | - Steven C Brooks
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
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5
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Cheskes S, Drennan IR. Community response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Addressing the challenge of private access defibrillation. Resuscitation 2020; 150:187-188. [PMID: 32169606 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheldon Cheskes
- Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Ian R Drennan
- Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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6
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Stroop R, Kerner T, Strickmann B, Hensel M. Mobile phone-based alerting of CPR-trained volunteers simultaneously with the ambulance can reduce the resuscitation-free interval and improve outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A German, population-based cohort study. Resuscitation 2019; 147:57-64. [PMID: 31887366 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AIM To test the hypothesis that simultaneous mobile phone-based alerting of CPR-trained volunteers (Mobile-Rescuers) with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) teams leads to better outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims than EMS alerting alone. METHODS The outcomes of 730 OHCA patients were retrospectively analysed, depending on who initiated CPR: Mobile-Rescuer-initiated-CPR (n = 94), EMS-initiated-CPR (n = 359), lay bystander-initiated-CPR (n = 277). An adjusted analysis of the intervention and their main outcomes (emergency response time, return of spontaneous circulation, hospital discharge rate, neurological outcomes) was performed (Propensity Score Method with patient matching). RESULTS Recruited and trained Mobile-Rescuers (n = 740) arrived at the scene in 46% of all triggered alarms. There was a significant difference in response time between Mobile-Rescuers (4 min) and EMS teams (7 min), (p < 0.001). Compared to EMS-initiated-CPR, Mobile-Rescuer-initiated-CPR patients more frequently showed a return of spontaneous circulation, but statistical significance was narrowly missed (p = 0.056). The hospital discharge rate was significantly higher with the Mobile-Rescuer (18%) vs. EMS (7%), (p = 0.049). Good neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Categories Score 1 and 2) were seen in 11% of Mobile-Rescuer patients and 4% of EMS patients (p = 0.165). There were no significant differences compared with lay bystander-initiated-CPR. CONCLUSION Simultaneous alerting of nearby CPR-trained volunteers complementary to professional EMS teams can reduce both the response time and resuscitation-free interval and might improve hospital discharge rate and neurological outcomes after OHCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Stroop
- Department of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, St. Barbara-Klinik Hamm-Heessen, Am Heessener Wald 1, 59073 Hamm, Germany.
| | - Thoralf Kerner
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Asklepios Klinikum Harburg, Eißendorfer Pferdeweg 52, 21075 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Bernd Strickmann
- Medical Director, Emergency Medical Service, City and District of Gütersloh, Herzebrocker Strasse 140, 33324 Gütersloh, Germany.
| | - Mario Hensel
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Park-Klinik-Weissensee, Schönstrasse 80, 13086 Berlin, Germany.
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Ringh M, Hollenberg J, Palsgaard-Moeller T, Svensson L, Rosenqvist M, Lippert FK, Wissenberg M, Malta Hansen C, Claesson A, Viereck S, Zijlstra JA, Koster RW, Herlitz J, Blom MT, Kramer-Johansen J, Tan HL, Beesems SG, Hulleman M, Olasveengen TM, Folke F. The challenges and possibilities of public access defibrillation. J Intern Med 2018; 283:238-256. [PMID: 29331055 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major health problem that affects approximately four hundred and thousand patients annually in the United States alone. It is a major challenge for the emergency medical system as decreased survival rates are directly proportional to the time delay from collapse to defibrillation. Historically, defibrillation has only been performed by physicians and in-hospital. With the development of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), rapid defibrillation by nonmedical professionals and subsequently by trained or untrained lay bystanders has become possible. Much hope has been put to the concept of Public Access Defibrillation with a massive dissemination of public available AEDs throughout most Western countries. Accordingly, current guidelines recommend that AEDs should be deployed in places with a high likelihood of OHCA. Despite these efforts, AED use is in most settings anecdotal with little effect on overall OHCA survival. The major reasons for low use of public AEDs are that most OHCAs take place outside high incidence sites of cardiac arrest and that most OHCAs take place in residential settings, currently defined as not suitable for Public Access Defibrillation. However, the use of new technology for identification and recruitment of lay bystanders and nearby AEDs to the scene of the cardiac arrest as well as new methods for strategic AED placement redefines and challenges the current concept and definitions of Public Access Defibrillation. Existing evidence of Public Access Defibrillation and knowledge gaps and future directions to improve outcomes for OHCA are discussed. In addition, a new definition of the different levels of Public Access Defibrillation is offered as well as new strategies for increasing AED use in the society.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ringh
- Department for Medicine, Center for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Hollenberg
- Department for Medicine, Center for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Palsgaard-Moeller
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L Svensson
- Department for Medicine, Center for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Rosenqvist
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F K Lippert
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Wissenberg
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Malta Hansen
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - A Claesson
- Department for Medicine, Center for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S Viereck
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J A Zijlstra
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R W Koster
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Herlitz
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Department of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - M T Blom
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Kramer-Johansen
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Prehospital Emergency Medicine (NAKOS), Air Ambulance Department, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Anaesthesiology Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - H L Tan
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S G Beesems
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Hulleman
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T M Olasveengen
- Department of Anaesthesiology Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - F Folke
- Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark
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Evaluation of Smartphone Applications for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in South Korea. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:6418710. [PMID: 27668257 PMCID: PMC5030397 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6418710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective. There are many smartphone-based applications (apps) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. We investigated the conformity and the learnability/usability of these apps for CPR training and real-life supports. Methods. We conducted a mixed-method, sequential explanatory study to assess CPR training apps downloaded on two apps stores in South Korea. Apps were collected with inclusion criteria as follows, Korean-language instruction, training features, and emergency supports for real-life incidents, and analyzed with two tests; 15 medical experts evaluated the apps' contents according to current Basic Life Support guidelines in conformity test, and 15 nonmedical individuals examined the apps using System Usability Scale (SUS) in the learnability/usability test. Results. Out of 79 selected apps, five apps were included and analyzed. For conformity (ICC, 0.95, p < 0.001), means of all apps were greater than 12 of 20 points, indicating that they were well designed according to current guidelines. Three of the five apps yielded acceptable level (greater than 68 of 100 points) for learnability/usability. Conclusion. All the included apps followed current BLS guidelines and a majority offered acceptable learnability/usability for layperson. Current and developmental smartphone-based CPR training apps should include accurate CPR information and be easy to use for laypersons that are potential rescuers in real-life incidents. For Clinical Trials. This is a clinical trial, registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, cris.nih.go.kr), number KCT0001840.
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Rumsfeld JS, Brooks SC, Aufderheide TP, Leary M, Bradley SM, Nkonde-Price C, Schwamm LH, Jessup M, Ferrer JME, Merchant RM. Use of Mobile Devices, Social Media, and Crowdsourcing as Digital Strategies to Improve Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation 2016; 134:e87-e108. [DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000000428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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10
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Svensson A, Fridlund B, Wångmar E, Elmqvist C. Home healthcare nurses’ experiences of being on stand by as a first responder in a ‘While Waiting For the Ambulance’ assignment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/2057158516637236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study is to describe experiences of the ‘While Waiting for the Ambulance’ (WWFA) assignment, as described by home healthcare nurses (HHCNs). Since the early 1990s, municipal resources in Sweden, preferably firefighters, have been dispatched on WWFA. In order to further assist the local residents on an island in the southwest of Sweden, HHCNs have recently begun accompanying firefighters on WWFA. A reflective lifeworld approach was used for data analysis including in-depth interviews with eight HHCNs. When WWFA was established, the HHCNs experienced lack of clarity in where their responsibilities start and end. A split role is described, and there is a paradox in that the responders are meant to collaborate toward saving lives, when the assignment itself has a lack of collaborative structure. Ethical dilemmas and inner emotional worries led to the nurses expressing a need for support before, during and after WWFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Svensson
- Centre for Acute and Critical Care, Linneaus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Bengt Fridlund
- School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden
| | - Erik Wångmar
- Department of Political Science, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Carina Elmqvist
- Centre for Acute and Critical Care, Linneaus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Ringh M, Rosenqvist M, Hollenberg J, Jonsson M, Fredman D, Nordberg P, Järnbert-Pettersson H, Hasselqvist-Ax I, Riva G, Svensson L. Mobile-phone dispatch of laypersons for CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:2316-25. [PMID: 26061836 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1406038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 322] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by bystanders is associated with increased survival rates among persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We investigated whether rates of bystander-initiated CPR could be increased with the use of a mobile-phone positioning system that could instantly locate mobile-phone users and dispatch lay volunteers who were trained in CPR to a patient nearby with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS We conducted a blinded, randomized, controlled trial in Stockholm from April 2012 through December 2013. A mobile-phone positioning system that was activated when ambulance, fire, and police services were dispatched was used to locate trained volunteers who were within 500 m of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; volunteers were then dispatched to the patients (the intervention group) or not dispatched to them (the control group). The primary outcome was bystander-initiated CPR before the arrival of ambulance, fire, and police services. RESULTS A total of 5989 lay volunteers who were trained in CPR were recruited initially, and overall 9828 were recruited during the study. The mobile-phone positioning system was activated in 667 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: 46% (306 patients) in the intervention group and 54% (361 patients) in the control group. The rate of bystander-initiated CPR was 62% (188 of 305 patients) in the intervention group and 48% (172 of 360 patients) in the control group (absolute difference for intervention vs. control, 14 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, 6 to 21; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS A mobile-phone positioning system to dispatch lay volunteers who were trained in CPR was associated with significantly increased rates of bystander-initiated CPR among persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. (Funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and Stockholm County; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01789554.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Ringh
- From the Department of Medicine, Center for Resuscitation Science, Karolinska Institutet, Solna (M. Ringh, J.H., M.J., D.F., P.N., I.H.-A., G.R., L.S.), the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd (M. Rosenqvist), and the Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset (H.J.-P.) - all in Stockholm
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