Effectiveness of a smartwatch-based feedback system in improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality: a simulation...

Background High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical determinant of survival in cardiac arrest. Although current guidelines endorse the use of feedback devices to improve CPR performance, their limited availability in clinical settings poses a significant barrier. To address this gap, we developed a CPR feedback application for smartwatches, leveraging wearable technology to provide real-time, user-friendly guidance for chest compressions. Our study was to assess whether a commercially available smartwatch could function effectively as a real-time CPR feedback device and improve compression quality. Methods In this single-center, sequential trial, 90 healthcare professionals performed two 2-minute sessions of chest compressions on a manikin, separated by a 2-minute rest. The first session was performed without feedback, and the second using the VIMO feedback application integrated into an Apple Watch Series 9. The primary outcome was the Overall Performance Score, a composite of rate and depth effectiveness. Results Use of the smartwatch-based feedback system significantly improved CPR quality. The Overall Performance Score increased from a median of 82.5 % (IQR 49.0-97.0) without feedback to 97.0 % (IQR 80.0-99.0) with the device (p < 0.001). Mean depth effectiveness (82.0 % vs. 71.0 %) and median rate effectiveness (94.5 % vs. 62.5 %) also improved significantly (both p < 0.001). Conclusion The use of a feedback-enabled smartwatch improved CPR quality metrics, including compression depth and rate, among healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, these findings should be interpreted with caution when extrapolating to real-world cardiac arrest scenarios. Further research is warranted to assess the effectiveness of this approach during actual resuscitations and among lay rescuer populations.