Brian Haskins1, Ziad Nehme2, Bridget Dicker3, Mark H Wilson4, Michael Ray5, Stephen Bernard6, Peter Cameron7, Karen Smith8. 1. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Pre-hospital Emergency Care Australia and NZ (PEC-ANZ), Monash University, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Brian.Haskins@Monash.edu. 2. Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia. 3. St John, Auckland, New Zealand; Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. 4. Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, London W2 1NY, UK. 5. Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia; The Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. 7. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Pre-hospital Emergency Care Australia and NZ (PEC-ANZ), Monash University, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia; The Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. 8. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Pre-hospital Emergency Care Australia and NZ (PEC-ANZ), Monash University, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Responder smartphone apps use global positioning data to enable emergency medical services to alert volunteer responders of nearby potential out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). AIM: To assess volunteer availability, interventions provided and frequency of probable post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by responders receiving a smartphone alert. METHODS: A web-based survey was emailed to alerted responders at week-two post-alert and a PTSD screening survey at week-six, in Victoria, Australia (1/08/2019-8/11/2020), and in New Zealand (18/02/2020-28/10/2020). RESULTS: We received 1,985 responses to the week-two survey and 1,443 responses to the week-six survey. Of the 1,985 responders, 1,744 (87.9%) had completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in the last twelve months, and 1,514 (76.3%) had performed CPR at least once. The alert was seen by 1,501 (75.6%) responders, 749 (37.7%) accepted the alert, 538 (27.1%) arrived on scene, and 283 (14.3%) provided care to the patient. In the multivariable analysis, CPR training within twelve months was associated with increased odds of responders accepting alerts (AOR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.02-1.96; p=0.040). Responders who had performed CPR before, were more than twice as likely to provide patient care compared to responders who had not (AOR 2.54, 95%CI: 1.56-4.12; p<0.001). One responder screened positive for probable PTSD. CONCLUSION: Acceptance rates in Australia and New Zealand were consistent with other smartphone apps. Responder recruitment should be targeted at those with medical backgrounds who have prior CPR experience, as they are more likely to provide care. The very low risk of PTSD is reassuring information when recruiting volunteers.
BACKGROUND: Responder smartphone apps use global positioning data to enable emergency medical services to alert volunteer responders of nearby potential out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). AIM: To assess volunteer availability, interventions provided and frequency of probable post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by responders receiving a smartphone alert. METHODS: A web-based survey was emailed to alerted responders at week-two post-alert and a PTSD screening survey at week-six, in Victoria, Australia (1/08/2019-8/11/2020), and in New Zealand (18/02/2020-28/10/2020). RESULTS: We received 1,985 responses to the week-two survey and 1,443 responses to the week-six survey. Of the 1,985 responders, 1,744 (87.9%) had completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in the last twelve months, and 1,514 (76.3%) had performed CPR at least once. The alert was seen by 1,501 (75.6%) responders, 749 (37.7%) accepted the alert, 538 (27.1%) arrived on scene, and 283 (14.3%) provided care to the patient. In the multivariable analysis, CPR training within twelve months was associated with increased odds of responders accepting alerts (AOR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.02-1.96; p=0.040). Responders who had performed CPR before, were more than twice as likely to provide patient care compared to responders who had not (AOR 2.54, 95%CI: 1.56-4.12; p<0.001). One responder screened positive for probable PTSD. CONCLUSION: Acceptance rates in Australia and New Zealand were consistent with other smartphone apps. Responder recruitment should be targeted at those with medical backgrounds who have prior CPR experience, as they are more likely to provide care. The very low risk of PTSD is reassuring information when recruiting volunteers.
Authors: Sonali Munot; Julie Redfern; Janet E Bray; Blake Angell; Adrian Bauman; Andrew Coggins; Alan Robert Denniss; Cate Ferry; Garry Jennings; Pramesh Kovoor; Saurabh Kumar; Kevin Lai; Sarah Khanlari; Simone Marschner; Paul M Middleton; Michael Nelson; Ian Opperman; Christopher Semsarian; Lee Taylor; Matthew Vukasovic; Sandra Ware; Clara Chow Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-06-09 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Eithne Heffernan; Dylan Keegan; Jenny Mc Sharry; Tomás Barry; Peter Tugwell; Andrew W Murphy; Conor Deasy; David Menzies; Cathal O'Donnell; Siobhan Masterson Journal: Resusc Plus Date: 2022-01-10