The effect of a cellular-phone video demonstration to improve the quality of dispatcher-assisted chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation as compared with audio coaching

Objective: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has shown to significantly improve the survival of cardiac-arrest victims. Dispatcher assistance increases the number of bystanders who perform CPR, but the quality of CPR remains unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess the effect of video coaching on the performance of CPR by untrained volunteers when compared with traditional audio instruction in simulated cardiac arrests.

Methods: Adult volunteers were randomised to receive audio-assisted instructions (audio group=39), or video-demonstrated instructions (video group=39) via cellular phones on how to perform chest compressions on mannequins. Then, the volunteers' performances were video-recorded. The quality of CPR was evaluated by reviewing the videos and mannequin reports.

Results: For the video group, the chest compression rate was more optimal (99.5min(-1) vs. 77.4min(-1), P<0.01) and the time from the initial phone call to the first compressions was shorter (184s vs. 211s, P<0.01). The depth of compressions was deeper in the audio group (31.3mm vs. 27.5mm, P=0.21), but neither group performed the recommended depth of compression. The hand positions for compression were more appropriate in the video group (71.8% vs. 43.6%, P=0.01). As many as 71.8% of the video group had no 'hands-off' events when performing compression (vs. 46.2% for the audio group, P=0.02).

Conclusions: Instructions from the dispatcher, along with a video demonstration of CPR, improved the time to initiate compression, the compression rate and the correct hand positioning. It also reduced the 'hands-off' events during CPR. However, emphasised instructions by video may be needed to increase the depth of compressions.