Defibrillation and the quality of layperson cardiopulmonary resuscitation-dispatcher assistance or training?

Abstract

To examine whether basic life support-defibrillation (BLS-D) training of laypersons enhances the speed of defibrillation and the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during a simulated ventricular fibrillation scenario compared with a situation where the care provider has no previous BLS-D training but receives dispatcher assistance with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and the performance of CPR. Fifty-two military conscripts of the Finnish Defence Forces who without previous medical education had been tested in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario with dispatcher assistance and thereafter received a 4-h BLS-D training. Six months later they were randomly divided to form teams of two and again tested in a similar scenario but without dispatcher assistance. The time interval from collapse to first shock, hands-off time and the quality of CPR were compared between the two tests. The quality of mouth-to-mouth ventilation was better after training, but there was only a minor improvement in the quality of compressions and the speed of defibrillation. Training improved the quality of mouth-to-mouth ventilation performed by laypersons but had only a minor effect on defibrillation and the quality of compressions.