Dispatcher-assisted telephone CPR: a qualitative study exploring how dispatchers perceive their experiences

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) perceive their experience of identifying suspected cardiac arrests (CA), and offer and provide instructions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation via telephone (t-CPR). DESIGN: A qualitative method using the phenomenographic design where 10 EMDs were approached for semi-structured interviews. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perception in identifying CA, perception in offering t-CPR and perception in providing t-CPR. RESULTS: In this analysis, 12 categories and 31 subcategories emerged. The categories for perception in identifying CA were; to trust the witness's account, to be open-minded and to be organised. The categories for perception in offering t-CPR were: to feel prepared to connect with the witness on a mental level by being organised, flexible and supportive, to obtain a basis for assessments and to be observant for diverse obstacles in a situation. Finally, the categories for perception in providing t-CPR were: to feel engaged, to be supportive of the witness, to feel secure by recognising response-feedback from the witness, to observe external conditions with regard to the locality and technical complications, to be composed and adjust to the needs of the situation, to feel competent or to feel despair. CONCLUSIONS: By listening in an open-minded way, a vast amount of information can be collected. Using criteria-based dispatch (CBD) and their own resources, the possibilities and difficulties of the situation are analysed. The EMDs believe that they are being an empathic support, relieving the witness of the burden of responsibility, and connecting with them mentally to enable them to act at the scene. There are EMDs who feel competent and experienced in managing these cases, and other EMDs who feel insecure and despair. The choice between providing t-CPR and answering incoming calls is prioritised differently among EMDs. There is also a broad subjective assessment among EMDs of offering t-CPR, especially to persons over 70 years old whom they consider incapable of performing CPR. The competence of the EMDs in t-CPR is dependent on re-training and a feedback on patient outcome. Witnesses who are negative towards acting constitute a common problem. There are witnesses with physical impediments or psychologically not susceptible to suggestions. The EMD is also dependent on the knowledge and trustworthiness of the witness. Convincing answers from witnesses prompt a more secure feeling in the EMDs, just as lack of knowledge in the witness has a negative effect on the efforts.     

Rescue percutaneous coronary intervention during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

If sudden cardiac arrest occurs during cardiac catheterization, the underlying coronary condition may be defined immediately by coronary angiography. This may, in turn, allow a lifesaving attempt of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We report on two patients with critical proximal disease of the left coronary artery in whom successful PCI during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) led to the restoration of a spontaneous circulation and long-term survival.     

Personal medical documents management--how patients perceive, keep and manage their medical documents: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Absence of medical documents damages the quality of treatment and service. Despite the computerized medical folder, its use is still limited, and not all countries have a national health communications systems. That is why the patients are asked to bring with them the documents they hold. However, some patients lose the documents and others are uncooperative due to forgetfulness, and a lack of knowledge. OBJECTIVES: To examine how patients perceive, keep and manage medical documents. DESIGN: The research was conducted in the qualitative method. SETTINGS: A cardiology clinic, in a big medical center in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 28 patients suffering from ischemic heart disease and/or rhythm disorders. The sample was a convenience one, and were taken from the population visiting the Cardiology Clinic from May to October 2003. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were held with the participants. The data were processed by means of content analysis. RESULTS: The findings indicate that, even though the participants expressed that it is the health system's responsibility to manage medical documents, most of them kept, and some even managed, their medical documents via a personal folder. By keeping documents and deciding to whom and when to show them the patient functions as a self-care manager. This made them more involved in their treatment and, they felt in control and empowered. CONCLUSION: Patient's attention to documents, as keeper and router, results in demonstrations of responsibility and involvement in treatment, consequently empowering the patient.     

How students perceive faculty caring: a phenomenological study

Caring must be visible in the learning environment. To nurture nursing students' capacity to care, the author studied student perceptions of caring nursing student-faculty experiences. Faculty members are encouraged to provide an environment and means for nursing students to gain the skills necessary to professionalize human caring.     

Simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a new method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

No existing device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is designed to exploit both the "cardiac pump" and the "thoracic pump" effect simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to measure the haemodynamic effect of a new simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (SST-CPR) device that could compress the sternum and constrict the thoracic cavity simultaneously in a canine cardiac arrest model. After 4 min of ventricular fibrillation, 24 mongrel dogs were randomized to receive standard CPR (n=12) or SST-CPR (n=12). SST-CPR generated a new pattern of the aortic pressure curve presumed to be the result of both sternal compression and thoracic constriction. SST-CPR resulted in significantly higher mean arterial pressure than standard CPR (68.9+/-16.1 vs. 30.5+/-10.0 mmHg, P<0.01). SST-CPR generated higher coronary perfusion pressure than standard CPR (47.0+/-11.4 vs. 17.3+/-8.9 mmHg, P<0.01). End tidal CO(2) tension was also higher during SST-CPR than standard CPR (11.6+/-6.1 vs. 2.17+/-3.3 mmHg, P<0.01). In this preliminary animal model study, simultaneous sternothoracic cardiopulmonary resuscitation generated better haemodynamic effects than standard, closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for Mozambican nursing students in a low-resource setting: An intervention study

BackgroundThere is an increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Africa. Nurses' ability to undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can significantly impact the survival of patients who experience cardiac arrest.ObjectivesWe aimed to identify the effects of CPR training among Registered Nurse-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) students in Mozambique.DesignA one-group pretest–posttest repeated-measures quasi-experimental design.SettingAuditorium of a general hospital and 2 Anne manikins, but no automatic external defibrillator.ParticipantsThirty-two RN-BSN students.MethodsStudents' attitudes and self-efficacy on CPR were measured by self-reported questionnaires three times (before, immediately after, and 20 weeks post intervention). Data were analyzed by the paired t-test and repeated-measures analysis of variance.ResultsAttitude and self-efficacy scores of students on CPR significantly increased immediately after CPR training, but decreased 20 weeks after the intervention (p < .001). Sociodemographic characteristics did not significantly differ throughout the measurements of attitude or self-efficacy.ConclusionsCPR manikin training positively affected attitude and self-efficacy in CPR among RN-BSN nursing students immediately, but not at 20 weeks, after the training. There is a need for research to repeatedly quantify parameters in a controlled study at different intervals and develop an instructor-training course customized to Mozambique.     

萨博心肺复苏与徒手心肺复苏临床效果的对比观察

目的比较萨博心肺复苏与徒手心肺复苏的临床效果。方法按照随机分组方法收集符合观察条件的病例222例,分别施行萨博辅助胸外心脏按压复苏(萨博复苏组,n=113)和徒手胸外心脏按压复苏(徒手复苏组,n=109),对比观察两组首次复苏时间、复苏首阶段(≤30 min)平均自主心律存续时间、由复苏首阶段复苏成功进入高级生命支持病例率、超长复苏(复苏30 min)率和复苏出院率。结果 1萨博复苏组平均首次复苏时间10.8±4.1 min,少于徒手复苏组15.6±5.6 min(P0.05);2在复苏初始≤30 min,萨博复苏组复苏后自主心律存续时间7.1±1.8 min明显长于徒手复苏组3.1±1.6 min(P0.01);3在复苏初始≤30 min成功复苏进入高级生命支持的比率,萨博复苏组28.31%明显高于徒手复苏组17.43%(P0.05);4在实施超长复苏方面,萨博复苏组超长复苏率(43.36%)明显高于徒手复苏组(17.31%)(P0.01)。5在出院率方面,萨博复苏组和徒手复苏组分别为7.96%和6.42%,两组间无显著差异(P0.05)。结论除出院率外,萨博器械辅助心肺复苏在首次复苏时间、复苏首阶段≤30 min平均自主心律存续时间、≤30 min内成功复苏进入高级生命支持病例率、超长复苏率方均明显优于徒手心肺复苏,值得临床推广应用。     

Activities during interruptions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a simulator study

Objective

Studies investigating the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have revealed frequent unnecessary interruptions of life support. The primary objective of the study is to analyze what happens during interruptions. We investigated (a) whether interruptions are filled with “secondary activities”, i.e., activities only indirectly related to the primary task of providing life support (e.g., preparatory and diagnostic activities), and (b) whether all group members focus on the same secondary activity during interruptions, thus impeding group coordination, and detracting from the primary task of providing life support.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Twenty teams of general practitioners were videotaped during a simulated cardiac arrest.

Outcome measures

Resuscitation performance was assessed as hands-on time according to resuscitation guidelines. Unnecessary interruptions were defined as periods the patient received no hands-on support.

Results

Teams of general practitioners achieved hands-on time in accordance with the resuscitation guidelines (chest compression/ventilation/defibrillation) during 62% of the time the patient had no pulse. Unnecessary interruptions consumed 32% of the available time. During most of the unnecessary interruption time, team members engaged in secondary medical activities, particularly observing the monitor (47%) and dealing with the defibrillator (47%). During 56% of the unnecessary interruption time, all team members focussed their attention on the same secondary activity, thus neglecting the need for task distribution among team members.

Conclusions

Unnecessary interruptions of CPR occur frequently and consume approximately one-third of the time patients should receive continuous life support. Unnecessary interruptions are mainly characterized by secondary medical activities that may be perceived as meaningful. During the majority of unnecessary interruptions, all team members focus on the same secondary activity, indicating shortcomings in task distribution in the resuscitation team. The findings emphasize the importance of team training with particular emphasis on situational awareness and task distribution.     

How physiotherapists perceive,interpret, and respond to the ethical dimensions of practice: A qualitative study

The profile and reach of physiotherapy has expanded in areas of extended scope of practice, and broader engagement with population needs beyond the individual treatment encounter. These changes raise increasingly complex ethical challenges evidenced by growth in physiotherapy-based ethics studies and discussions. This paper examines how a broad cross section of Australian physiotherapists perceive, interpret, and respond to ethical challenges in their work contexts and how professional codes of conduct are used in their practice. Using an interpretive qualitative methodology, purposive sampling of 88 members of national clinical special interest groups were recruited for focus group discussions. Narrative-based and thematic data analysis identified ethical challenges as emerging from specific clinical contexts, and influenced by health organizations, funding policies, workplace relationships, and individually held perspectives. Five themes were developed to represent these findings: (1) the working environment, (2) balancing diverse needs and expectation, (3) defining ethics, (4) striving to act ethically, and (5) talking about ethics. The results portray a diverse and complex ethical landscape where therapists encounter and grapple with ethical questions emerging from the impact of funding models and policies affecting clinical work, expanding boundaries and scope of practice and changing professional roles and relationships. Codes of conduct were described as foundational ethical knowledge but not always helpful for “in the moment” ethical decision-making. Based on this research, we suggest how codes of conduct, educators, and professional associations could cultivate and nurture ethics capability in physiotherapy practitioners for these contemporary challenges.     

感控式心肺复苏背板:按标准进行心肺复苏的裁判员

目的 发明一种感控式心肺复苏(CPR)背板,引导施救者进行标准CPR.方法 施救者将一个既具有支撑功能、又能提供标准按压参数和频率提示的多功能智能化感控式CPR背板置于患者胸背部下方,将患者的头部置于背板上方中央的凹槽中,按2005国际CPR指南进行徒手胸外心脏按压,参照背板显示窗口的标准压力及频率提示实时调整,以完成标准的胸外按压.结果 感控式CPR背板较以往用于CPR时的支撑背板具有对按压时压力和频率的显示功能,现场实施时能即时反馈客观数据,使施救者达到标准CPR的要求,从而提高了CPR的成功率;且使用感控式CPR背板进行CPR时操作的规范性明显优于传统的CPR,能有效规避不规范胸外按压引发的胸肋骨骨折等并发症.结论 感控式CPR背板在具备以往垫板支撑功能的同时,规避了传统胸外按压时的不规范操作,减少了并发症,提高了CPR的成功率,担当了提示、监督和协助施救者按标准进行CPR裁判员的重要角色.