Verbal Motivation vs. Digital Real-Time Feedback during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Comparing Bystander CPR Quality in a Randomized and Controlled Manikin Study of Simulated Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

Objective

The use of smartphone applications increases bystander CPR quality as well as the use of telephone CPR protocols. The present prospective, randomized, controlled manikin trial analyses the effects of a smartphone application (PocketCPR©) on CPR quality in a bystander CPR scenario compared to a dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR with the additional use of a metronome and verbal motivation. Methods: 150 laypersons were included to perform 8-minute CPR on a manikin. Volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR (telephone-group), (2) dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR combined with the smartphone-application (telephone + app-group) and (3) dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR with additional verbal motivation (“push harder, release completely,” every 20 seconds, starting after 60 seconds) and a metronome with 100 min⁻¹ (telephone + motivation-group). Results: Median compression depth did not differ significantly between the study groups (p = 0.051). However, in the post hoc analysis median compression depth in the telephone + motivation-group was significantly elevated compared to the telephone + app-group (59 mm [IQR 47–67 mm] vs. 51 mm [IQR 46–57 mm]; p = 0.025). The median number of superficial compressions was significantly reduced in the telephone + motivation-group compared to the telephone + app-group (70 [IQR 3–362] vs. 349 [IQR 88–538]; p = 0.004), but not compared to the telephone-group (91 [IQR 4–449]; p = 0.707). In contrast to the other study groups, median compression depth of the telephone + motivation-group increased over time. Chest compressions with correct depth were found significantly more often in the telephone + app-group compared to the other study groups (p = 0.011). Median compression rate in the telephone + app-group was significantly elevated (108 min⁻¹ [IQR 96–119 min⁻¹]) compared to the telephone-group (78 min⁻¹ [IQR 56–106 min⁻¹]; p < 0.001) and the telephone + motivation-group (99 min⁻¹ [IQR 91–101 min⁻¹]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of a smartphone application as well as verbal motivation by a dispatcher during telephone CPR leads to higher CPR quality levels compared to standard telephone CPR. Thereby, the use of the smartphone application mainly shows an increase in compression rate, while increased compression rate with simultaneously increased compression depth was only apparent in the telephone + motivation-group.

Key words:

• basic life support (BLS)
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• telephone CPR
• bystander CPR
• feedback