title: Telemedicine and cardiopulmonary resuscitation: the value of video-link and telephone instruction to a mock bystander.
abstract: We evaluated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by persons with no previous experience on a resuscitation dummy. Subjects were randomized into four groups, one of which had no instruction. The other three groups were instructed for 3 min in mock CPR by a supervisor using a telephone, a video-link, or directly in person. They were compared with a group which had had previous CPR training. The main outcome measures were the number of correct ventilations, chest compressions and compressions with correct hand position. Video-link instruction was associated with significantly higher median scores for all three outcome measurements (P < 0.05), whereas telephone instruction and previous CPR training were associated with higher scores on only one, namely ventilations (P < 0.05). Video-link instruction was comparable with direct observer instruction. There was no significant difference between previously trained subjects and the intervention groups. Video-link instruction can produce significant improvements in the quality of CPR in mock resuscitations for persons with no resuscitation training.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: McNicholl
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Loane
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wootton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017216:Telemedicine; D013689:Telephone; D014741:Video Recording