Research article summary (published 15 Jul 2008):

Instructions to "push as hard as you can" improve average chest compression depth in dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with adequate chest compression depth appears to improve first shock success in cardiac arrest. We evaluate the effect of simplification of chest compression instructions on compression depth in dispatcher-assisted CPR protocol. METHODS: Data from two randomized, double-blinded, controlled trials with identical methodology were combined to obtain 332 records for this analysis. Subjects were randomized to either modified Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) v11.2 protocol or a new simplified protocol. The main difference between the protocols was the instruction to "push as hard as you can" in the simplified protocol, compared to "push down firmly 2in. (5cm)" in MPDS. Data were recorded via a Laerdal ResusciAnne SkillReporter manikin. Primary outcome measures included: chest compression depth, proportion of compressions without error, with adequate depth and with total release. RESULTS: Instructions to "push as hard as you can", compared to "push down firmly 2in. (5cm)", resulted in improved chest compression depth (36.4 mm vs. 29.7 mm, p<0.0001), and improved median proportion of chest compressions done to the correct depth (32% vs. <1%, p<0.0001). No significant difference in median proportion of compressions with total release (100% for both) and average compression rate (99.7 min(-1) vs. 97.5 min(-1), p<0.56) was found. CONCLUSIONS: Modifying dispatcher-assisted CPR instructions by changing "push down firmly 2in. (5cm)" to "push as hard as you can" achieved improvement in chest compression depth at no cost to total release or average chest compression rate.

Author information

Author/s: Mirza, Muzna (M); Brown, Todd B (TB); Saini, Devashish (D); Pepper, Tracy L (TL); Nandigam, Hari Krishna (HK); Kaza, Niroop (N); Cofield, Stacey S (SS);

Affiliation: Health Informatics Program, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. muzna(-atsign-)uab.edu

Grants: 5-U01-HL077881 (Agency:NHLBI NIH HHS) ; N01 LM3-3513 (Agency:NLM NIH HHS) ; N01-LM-3-3513 (Agency:NLM NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Resuscitation (Resuscitation), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Oct; vol 79 (issue 1) : pp 97-102

Dates: Created 2008/09/22; Completed 2009/01/27; Revised 2009/10/02;

PMID: 18635306, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/5/2009, IMS Date: 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - education Double-Blind Method Female Heart Massage - methods

Humans Male Manikins Prospective Studies Reinforcement, Verbal

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