Effectiveness of Video Call-Assisted Versus Voice Call-Assisted Dispatcher-Guided CPR in Untrained Laypersons: A...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading global cause of death.
• Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for survival, but many untrained individuals manage witnessed arrests.
• Dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) improves bystander CPR rates, yet voice-only guidance lacks real-time feedback on compression quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if video call-assisted dispatcher guidance with real-time demonstration improves CPR quality compared to voice-only guidance.
• To assess CPR performance in untrained laypersons during a simulated adult OHCA scenario.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, single-blind, manikin-based trial involving 85 untrained university students.
• Participants were randomized to telephone-assisted CPR (T-CPR) or video-assisted CPR (V-CPR) groups.
• CPR quality was assessed using a manikin feedback system, with V-CPR group receiving simultaneous dispatcher demonstration.

Main Results:

• The V-CPR group achieved a significantly higher composite CPR Quality Score compared to the T-CPR group (P < .001).
• V-CPR resulted in greater mean compression depth, higher proportions of correct compressions, and shorter interruption times.
• Multivariable analysis confirmed V-CPR allocation was independently associated with improved CPR quality and compression metrics.

Conclusions:

• Video call-assisted dispatcher guidance with real-time visual demonstration significantly enhances CPR quality in untrained lay rescuers.
• Integrating structured visual modeling into DA-CPR systems can improve bystander resuscitation performance.
• This approach may help address gaps in community CPR training and improve OHCA survival rates.