Methodology for data collection to study prehospital cardiac arrest in New York City: the PHASE methodology. PreHospital Arrest Survival Evaluation Group.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an effective methodology for the investigation of prehospital cardiac arrest in large cities.


METHODS
Observational cohort study.


METHODS
New York City emergency medical services system.


METHODS
All cardiac arrests dispatched by the 911 system between October 1, 1990, and March 31, 1991.


METHODS
Trained paramedics performed immediate postarrest interviews with prehospital and hospital care providers using a standardized data collection instrument.


RESULTS
Of 3,239 consecutive, confirmed cardiac arrests in which resuscitation was attempted, 2,329 (72%) were of cardiac etiology. Information was sought for 15 of the 17 core events and times recommended by the Utstein Consensus Conference Data were obtained in more than 98% of cases for all except one of these core events and times. One core time yielded data in 96% of cases. All patients were followed until death or discharge home. None were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Concurrent, interactive acquisition of prehospital cardiac arrest data in a large urban setting captured over 98% of the core data recommended for completion of the Utstein template. This methodology may be a suitable means of investigating prehospital cardiac arrest in large cities.
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
P
P
Gennis
G
G
Lombardi
E J
EJ
Gallagher
D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012107:Research Design; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data