Simulation-Based Study of Adding Video Communication to Dispatch Instruction

The purpose of this study is to determine whether adding interactive video communication to dispatch instruction improves the quality of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in simulated cardiac arrests.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of adult death and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival. Dispatch assistance increases the chance of bystander CPR but the quality of dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) remains unsatisfactory. This study is conducted to assess the effect of adding interactive video communication to dispatch instruction on the quality of bystander CPR, including chest compressions and rescue breathing, in simulated cardiac arrests.

• Placebo Comparator: voice group
  the "voice group" received voice CPR instruction via a voice-only cell phone
  Intervention: Device: video cell phone
• Experimental: video group
  the "video group" received interactive voice and video instruction via a video cell phone
  Intervention: Device: video cell phone

• Cheung S, Deakin CD, Hsu R, Petley GW, Clewlow F. A prospective manikin-based observational study of telephone-directed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2007 Mar;72(3):425-35. Epub 2007 Jan 16.
• Yang CW, Wang HC, Chiang WC, Chang WT, Yen ZS, Chen SY, Ko PC, Ma MH, Chen SC, Chang SC, Lin FY. Impact of adding video communication to dispatch instructions on the quality of rescue breathing in simulated cardiac arrests--a randomized controlled study. Resuscitation. 2008 Sep;78(3):327-32. Epub 2008 Jun 25.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Volunteers above 16 years of age who have not received any CPR training within the last 5 years were recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Healthcare providers, non-Mandarin speaking individuals, and those with illness/physical conditions that prevent them from receiving telephone instructions or performing CPR were excluded.