Background: Dispatch services (DS's) form an integral part of emergency medical service (EMS) systems. The role of a dispatcher has also evolved into a crucial link in patient care delivery, particularly in dispatcher assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DACPR) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Yet, there has been a paucity of research into the emerging area of dispatch science in Asia. This paper compares the characteristics of DS's, and state of implementation of DACPR within the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes (PAROS) network. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey addressing population characteristics, DS structures and levels of service, state of DACPR implementation (including protocols and quality improvement programs) among PAROS DS's. Results: 9 DS's responded, representing a total of 23 dispatch centres from 9 countries that serve over 80 million people. Most PAROS DS's operate a tiered dispatch response, have implemented medical oversight, and tend to be staffed by dispatchers with a predominantly medical background. Almost all PAROS DS's have begun tracking key EMS indicators. 77.8% (n = 7) of PAROS DS's have introduced DACPR. Of the DS's that have rolled out DACPR, 71.4% (n = 5) provided instructions in over one language. All DS's that implemented DACPR and provided feedback to dispatchers offered feedback on missed OHCA recognition. The majority of DS's (83.3%; n = 5) that offered DACPR and provided feedback to dispatchers also implemented corrective feedback, while 66.7% (n = 4) offered positive feedback. Compression-only CPR was the standard instruction for PAROS DS's. OHCA recognition sensitivity varied widely in PAROS DS's, ranging from 32.6% (95% CI: 29.9-35.5%) to 79.2% (95% CI: 72.9-84.4%). Median time to first compression ranged from 120 s to 220 s. Conclusions: We found notable variations in characteristics and state of DACPR implementation between PAROS DS's. These findings will lay the groundwork for future DS and DACPR studies in the PAROS network.

Objectives‘Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (QCPR) Classroom’ was recently introduced to provide higher-quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. This study aimed to examine whether novel QCPR Classroom training can lead to higher chest-compression quality than standard CPR training.DesignA cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare standard CPR training (control) and QCPR Classroom (intervention).SettingLayperson CPR training in Japan.ParticipantsSix hundred forty-two people aged over 15 years were recruited from among CPR trainees.InterventionsCPR performance data were registered without feedback on instrumented Little Anne prototypes for 1 min pretraining and post-training. A large classroom was used in which QCPR Classroom participants could see their CPR performance on a big screen at the front; the control group only received instructor’s subjective feedback.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcomes were compression depth (mm), rate (compressions per minute (cpm)), percentage of adequate depth (%) and recoil (%). Survey scores were a secondary outcome. The survey included participants’ confidence regarding CPR parameters and ease of understanding instructor feedback.ResultsIn total, 259 and 238 people in the control and QCPR Classroom groups, respectively, were eligible for analysis. After training, the mean compression depth and rate were 56.1±9.8 mm and 119.2±7.3 cpm in the control group and 59.5±7.9 mm and 116.8±5.5 cpm in the QCPR Classroom group. The QCPR Classroom group showed significantly more adequate depth than the control group (p=0.001). There were 39.0% (95% CI 33.8 to 44.2; p<0.0001) and 20.0% improvements (95% CI 15.4 to 24.7; P<0.0001) in the QCPR Classroom and control groups, respectively. The difference in adequate recoil between pretraining and post-training was 2.7% (95% CI −1.7 to 7.1; pre 64.2±36.5% vs post 66.9%±34.6%; p=0.23) and 22.6% in the control and QCPR Classroom groups (95% CI 17.8 to 27.3; pre 64.8±37.5% vs post 87.4%±22.9%; p<0.0001), respectively.ConclusionsQCPR Classroom helped students achieve high-quality CPR training, especially for proper compression depth and full recoil. For good educational achievement, a novel QCPR Classroom with a metronome sound is recommended.

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Aim: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in schools can increase the rate of bystander CPR. We assessed whether a "Quality CPR (QCPR) Classroom" can support CPR performance by students trained by a teacher who is not a CPR instructor. Methods: A cluster randomized trial was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of a 50-min Practice While Watch CPR training program enhanced by QCPR Classroom, which used 42 manikins connected by Bluetooth to real-time feedback monitoring. Fifty-seven students were divided into Group 1, taught by a non-CPR-instructor, and Group 2, taught by a CPR instructor. Psychomotor and cognitive tests were administered before and after training. Primary outcomes were post-training compression depth and rate and percent of improvement in adequate depth, recoil, and overall score. The secondary outcome was risk improvement. Results: Post-training, Group 1 achieved 62.1 AE 7.7 mm and 118.0 AE 3.6 compressions/min whereas Group 2 achieved 57.4 AE 9.8 mm and 119.8 AE 5.4 compressions/min. The overall score improvement in percentage points was 36.4 AE 25.9% and 27.0 AE 27.7%, respectively (P ≤ 0.001 for both). The adequate depth improvement in percentage points was 22.4 AE 35.4% and 32.5 AE 40.0%, respectively (P = 0.33). Teaching by a non-CPR instructor improved student cognitive knowledge. Conclusions: Using a QCPR Classroom to enhance CPR teaching by a non-CPR-instructor results in similar or better outcomes compared to using a CPR instructor. Use of a Practice While Watch QCPR Classroom will provide adequate quality in preparing students for CPR.

Protective equipment in sports can be a barrier to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) treatment, but no Kendo-related data are available. In order to enhance the SCA survival rate, we aimed to determine whether Kendo protective equipment should be removed before or after an automated external defibrillator (AED) has arrived by measuring the quality and timeframe of cardiopulmonary resuscitation administration. Eighteen collegiate female Kendo players were instructed to treat the patient with SCA under two conditions: (a) equipment removal [ER] condition; (b) no equipment removal [NER] condition. Chest compression initiation was delayed during simulated cardiac arrest situations in Kendo, but the SCA quality was much better without protective equipment. When a layperson is only a nonhealthcare professional female, Kendo protective equipment becomes a barrier for quick access during SCA treatment of Kendo players.