Does the British Heart Foundation PocketCPR training application improve confidence in bystanders performing CPR?

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest carries a high mortality rate, underscoring the critical role of immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Traditional CPR training faces barriers, prompting the development of innovative training solutions like the British Heart Foundation's PocketCPR application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the British Heart Foundation PocketCPR training application in enhancing bystander confidence during simulated resuscitation attempts.
• To compare confidence levels in performing CPR with and without the PocketCPR application.

Main Methods:

• A randomized crossover trial involving 120 participants was conducted.
• Participants performed CPR on a manikin, alternating between using the PocketCPR app and performing CPR without instruction.
• Questionnaires assessed bystander confidence before and after each intervention arm.

Main Results:

• Participants reported significantly higher confidence in overall CPR performance when using the PocketCPR application (50.41 vs. 43.92, p=0.026).
• Confidence in correct chest compression count and CPR delivery without recent training also improved with PocketCPR use (p<0.001 and p<0.002, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The British Heart Foundation PocketCPR training application effectively increases bystander confidence in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• The app serves as a valuable tool for simplifying CPR training and overcoming barriers to bystander intervention.