Intentions to use an automated external defibrillator during a cardiac emergency among a group of seniors trained in its operation.
OBJECTIVE
By decreasing the time to defibrillation, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) provide an opportunity for lay people to improve survival in out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. We examined how beliefs, expectations, and actual performance are related to intentions to use an AED during a future heart emergency among a group of seniors.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-nine seniors who had been previously trained in the operation of an AED were tested on their AED skills and asked about their perceptions regarding their AED skills; their expectations that an AED would save the life of a cardiac arrest victim; and their intentions to use an AED during a future cardiac event.


RESULTS
Logistic regression analyses showed that greater self-perceived ability to use an AED better actual performance on skills assessment but not expectations regarding the efficacy of AED treatment were independently associated with positive intentions to use an AED in a future heart emergency.


CONCLUSIONS
The likelihood that an elderly lay bystander will actually use an AED during a cardiac event may be closely tied to perceptions of his or her ability to operate an AED.
Meischke
Hendrika W
HW
Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Rea
Thomas D
TD
Eisenberg
Mickey S
MS
Rowe
Sharon M
SM
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014861:Washington