The Effect of T-CPR on the Quality of CPR and AED Use

The Effect of Telephone Assistance on the Quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Use of Automated External Defibrillator.

The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of telephone assistance and standardized basic life support courses on the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillator (AED).

The investigators hypothesize that bystanders can provide compressions in correct frequency and use an AED correctly as well as safely from telephone instructions but that correct and successful ventilations including correct open airway require training on a course.

The study aims at answering the following research questions:

1. How is the quality of CPR and use of AED when performed by an inexperienced bystander who receives telephone assistance compared to the quality when performed by a trained bystander, who has passed a standardized European Resuscitation Council (ERC) course in basic life support (BLS) but does not receive telephone assistance?
2. How is the quality of CPR and use of AED when performed by a trained bystander who has passed a standardized ERC course in BLS and who receives telephone assistance compared to the quality when performed by a trained bystander who does not receive telephone assistance?

The questions are sought answered through simulated cardiac arrest scenarios in non-classroom settings.

Participants are recruited from ERC courses in BLS.

Participants are randomised to one of three groups (stratified for course type using computer-generated randomisation lists with blocks of variable sizes):

1. Cardiac arrest scenario test before BLS course with telephone-assistance.
2. Cardiac arrest scenario test after BLS course, no telephone-assistance.
3. Cardiac arrest scenario test after BLS course with telephone-assistance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant at a European Resuscitation Council standardized basic life support course. Participants are enrolled from courses for university students, courses for elderly and courses for recruits in the Danish Emergency Management Agency.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Basic life support course within the last two years.
• Healthcare professional or background as healthcare professional.
• Instructor in basic life support or first aid.
• Lifeguard or background as lifeguard.
• Does not want to participate.