Abstract
Background
Responder smartphone apps use global positioning data to enable emergency medical
services to alert volunteer responders of nearby potential out-of-hospital cardiac
arrests (OHCA).
Aim
To assess volunteer availability, interventions provided and frequency of probable
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by responders receiving a smartphone
alert.
Methods
A web-based survey was emailed to alerted responders at week-two post-alert and a
PTSD screening survey at week-six, in Victoria, Australia (1/08/2019–8/11/2020), and
in New Zealand (18/02/2020–28/10/2020).
Results
We received 1,985 responses to the week-two survey and 1,443 responses to the week-six
survey. Of the 1,985 responders, 1,744 (87.9%) had completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) training in the last twelve months, and 1,514 (76.3%) had performed CPR at least
once. The alert was seen by 1,501 (75.6%) responders, 749 (37.7%) accepted the alert,
538 (27.1%) arrived on scene, and 283 (14.3%) provided care to the patient. In the
multivariable analysis, CPR training within twelve months was associated with increased
odds of responders accepting alerts (AOR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.02–1.96; p=0.040). Responders
who had performed CPR before, were more than twice as likely to provide patient care
compared to responders who had not (AOR 2.54, 95%CI: 1.56–4.12; p<0.001). One responder
screened positive for probable PTSD.
Conclusion
Acceptance rates in Australia and New Zealand were consistent with other smartphone
apps.
Responder recruitment should be targeted at those with medical backgrounds who have
prior CPR experience, as they are more likely to provide care. The very low risk of
PTSD is reassuring information when recruiting volunteers.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 25, 2021
Accepted:
October 18,
2021
Received in revised form:
October 17,
2021
Received:
August 1,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
