Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Chinese TV dramas: An observational analysis

Medical dramas have been shown to influence public perceptions of medical care, especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Previous studies have noted discrepancies between CPR events in medical dramas and real-life outcomes. However, there is a paucity of research on the accuracy of CPR in Chinese medical dramas. This study aimed to analyze the accuracy of CPR in Chinese medical dramas and assess its consistency with international CPR standards. We analyzed 4 high-viewership Chinese medical dramas from 2015 to 2023, and the data encompassed patient demographics, arrest etiology, scene (in-hospital/out-of-hospital), interventions, CPR providers, and outcomes. The accuracy of CPR implementation was evaluated according to the 2020 American Heart Association guidelines. A total of 39 CPR events were identified in 159 episodes of medical dramas. The majority of CPR recipients were male (61%), with an age range of 20 to 55 years (61.5%). The study found that the majority of CPR events (94.9%) occurred in hospitals. The primary causes of cardiac arrest included cardiovascular disease (48.7%) and trauma (30.8%). With regard to the quality of CPR, the following observations were made: compression position (71.8%), posture (64.1%), depth (64.1%), rebound (66.7%), continuity (74.4%), and frequency (28.2%). The short-term survival rate after CPR was 51%, and the long-term survival rate was 35%. This study reveals discrepancies between CPR in Chinese medical dramas and actual medical practice. Improving the accuracy of medical scenes in TV dramas and promoting viewers to actively learn about first aid are important.