Public perception towards bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Cardiology

Background:

• Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival and neurological outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.
• Despite its importance, a substantial number of OHCA patients do not receive bystander CPR, even when the arrest is witnessed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the barriers and concerns preventing bystanders from initiating CPR during witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
• To inform the development of more effective CPR training programs and public awareness campaigns.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 677 participants at CPR training events in the USA was conducted prior to training.
• Respondents reported their comfort levels and specific concerns about performing CPR on diverse patient demographics (middle-aged female, geriatric male, adolescent male/female).
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses identified recurring themes and barriers to bystander CPR initiation.

Main Results:

• Less than 65% of participants reported being 'Extremely Likely' or 'Moderately Likely' to initiate CPR across all patient scenarios.
• The primary concern cited was 'causing injury to the patient,' particularly for geriatric and adolescent victims.
• Specific concerns for female patients included fear of causing injury, issues with breast exposure, and fear of sexual assault accusations; lack of skills was also a significant barrier.

Conclusions:

• Individuals attending CPR training events express significant concerns and fears regarding bystander CPR.
• Key reservations include the potential to inflict harm and a perceived lack of necessary skills.
• Addressing these identified barriers is crucial for enhancing CPR training effectiveness and promoting greater public willingness to perform bystander CPR.