Use of technology driven devices aimed at providing audio-visual feedback during CPR have been developed, however research is limited to their usefulness effecting chest compression quality of clinical nurses who are often first to respond and begin chest compression on patients experiencing cardiac arrest. This study aimed to examine CPR chest compression compliance of nurses with and without feedback from the Zoll R Series® defibrillator on a manikin.
Hypothesis:
Audio-visual feedback technology use from the Zoll R Series defibrillator improves the percentage of appropriate chest compression depth and rate of nurses during a CPR manikin demonstration exercise.
Methods:
Thirty-four nurses participated using an AHA approved manikin. Each nurse performed two minutes of uninterrupted chest compressions without feedback, followed by a rest period and two minutes of uninterrupted chest compressions using feedback technology from the defibrillator. Compression data for rate and depth and total compressions in target within AHA 2015 ECC Guidelines were recorded by the defibrillator and entered into Zoll RescueNet® software. Demographics obtained for years of BLS and ACLS certification.
Results:
Of the 34 nurses, mean years of ACLS certification was 3.4 years and 11.7 certified years of BLS. Compressions performed with feedback showed a higher percentage of compressions in target (M = 87.37,
SD=
15.95) including rate (M= 86.33,
SD
=15.13) and depth (M= 97.12,
SD
= 5.63) of compressions compared to percent compressions in target without feedback (M= 64.42,
SD
= 30.54) including rate (M= 65.73,
SD
= 32.44) and depth (M=93.34,
SD
= 19.99) of compressions. Twenty nine or 85% of the 34 nurses improved chest compression performance using feedback. No significant correlation found between years of BLS and ACLS certification and pre and post feedback compliance.
Conclusions:
Defibrillators offering verbal encouragement and a visual display allow for adjustments in rate and depth of compressions to maintain chest compressions compliance within ECC Guidelines. Further studies should investigate whether the incorporation of feedback technology use in mock code and CPR training sessions could improve CPR performance of healthcare providers including nurses.