Now that we have the Utstein style, are we using it?

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Utstein style was introduced in 1991 to standardize research and reporting for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA).
• Consistent data collection and reporting are crucial for advancing OOHCA research and improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the adoption rate of the Utstein style in OOHCA research published between 1992 and 1997.
• To determine the extent to which OOHCA research adhered to the standardized Utstein reporting guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search identified 143 OOHCA research articles published from 1992 to 1997.
• Manual examination of emergency medicine/emergency medical services (EM/EMS) journals and computerized searches for other publications were conducted.
• Articles were reviewed to determine the applicability and actual use of the Utstein style, with consensus reached among authors for uncertain cases.

Main Results:

• The Utstein style was applicable to 102 studies, of which 41 (40%) implemented it.
• Adoption rates did not significantly differ between U.S. and non-U.S. institutions or between EM/EMS and non-EM/EMS literature.
• While there was an initial upward trend, Utstein style usage plateaued around 60% and did not exceed this level annually.

Conclusions:

• Despite being available for six years, the Utstein style was utilized in less than 60% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest research articles.
• Further efforts may be needed to promote and ensure consistent application of standardized reporting guidelines in OOHCA research.