Persisting effect of community approaches to resuscitation

Anne Møller Nielsen; Dan Lou Isbye; Freddy Knudsen Lippert; Lars Simon Rasmussen

doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.08.019

Persisting effect of community approaches to resuscitation

Resuscitation. 2014 Nov;85(11):1450-4. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.08.019. Epub 2014 Sep 2.

Authors

Anne Møller Nielsen¹, Dan Lou Isbye², Freddy Knudsen Lippert³, Lars Simon Rasmussen²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: mnielsen.anne@gmail.com.
² Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, Copenhagen University, Telegrafvej 5, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark.

PMID: 25193797
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.08.019

Abstract

Background: On the Danish island of Bornholm an intervention was carried out during 2008-2010 aiming at increasing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. The intervention included mass media focus on resuscitation and widespread educational activities. The aim of this study was to compare the bystander BLS rate and survival after OHCA on Bornholm in a 3-year follow-up period after the intervention took place.

Methods: Data on OHCA on Bornholm were collected from September 28th, 2010 to September 27th, 2013 and compared to data from the intervention period, September 28th, 2008 to September 27th, 2010.

Results: The bystander BLS rate for non-EMS witnessed OHCAs with presumed cardiac aetiology was significantly higher in the follow-up period (70% [95% CI 61-77] vs. 47% [95% CI 37-57], p=0.001). AEDs were deployed in 22 (18%) cases in the follow-up period and a shock was provided in 13 cases. There was no significant change in all-rhythm 30-day survival for non-EMS witnessed OHCAs with presumed cardiac aetiology (6.7% [95% CI 3-13] in the follow-up period; vs. 4.6% [95% CI 1-12], p=0.76).

Conclusion: In a 3-year follow-up period after an intervention engaging laypersons in resuscitation through mass education in BLS combined with a media focus on resuscitation, we observed a persistent significant increase in the bystander BLS rate for all OHCAs with presumed cardiac aetiology. There was no significant difference in 30-day survival.

Keywords: AED; BLS; Community engagement; Education; OHCA; Resuscitation.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / education*
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / methods
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / mortality
Databases, Factual
Denmark
Emergency Medical Services / methods
Emergency Medical Services / statistics & numerical data
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Education / organization & administration*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / mortality*
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
Program Evaluation
Residence Characteristics / statistics & numerical data*
Risk Assessment
Survival Analysis
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome