Introduction:
Since over 75% of sudden cardiac arrest events occur in the home where family members may be first responders, broad cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for family members of high-risk cardiac patients represents a promising intervention. The use of mobile application-based (mApp) CPR training may facilitate this, but data on the approach are limited.
Objectives:
We compared CPR skill retention among those trained with an mApp and hypothesized that training with the mApp would be non-inferior to training with a well-established video self-instruction (VSI) kit. As a secondary analysis, we examined dissemination via the “multiplier rate” (i.e., those additionally trained by primary trainees) by intervention.
Methods:
We conducted a multicenter pragmatic, randomized control trial assessing non-inferiority of training family members of cardiac patients in CPR with an mApp (video, but no practice manikin) to training with an established VSI method (video and manikin). Subject’s CPR skills were tested 6-months post-training. We hypothesized that mApp training would be non-inferior to VSI training, with a non-inferiority margin set at 5 chest compressions (cc) per min.
Results:
From 01/2016-01/2018, 1446 subjects were enrolled at 8 hospitals with 685 trained with VSI, and 761 trained with the mApp. Of those, 541 were included in the skills analysis (275 VSI, 266 App). The mean age was 52±16 years and 69% were female. Mean cc rate was 85±34 per min; mean cc depth was 40±14 mm. When stratified by intervention arm, those trained with VSI had a mean rate of 86 per min (83, 90), compared to 88 per min (84, 92) with the mApp; those trained with VSI had a mean depth of 42 mm (41, 44), compared to 39 mm (38, 41) with the mApp. Findings were similar when accounting for loss to follow-up. We concluded non-inferiority of the mApp with a mean difference of 1 (-5, 7) cc per min for rate. Subjects trained with VSI shared with an additional 2±4 individuals compared to 1±2 (p<0.01) of those trained with the mApp.
Conclusion:
In this large prospective trial of CPR skill retention, the mApp CPR training approach was non-inferior to VSI training for family members of cardiac patients. Future work may include evaluating additional means for adoption and dissemination of the mApp.
Physicians and CPR training in high-risk family members.
