Now That We Have the Utstein Style, Are We Using It?

Abstract

Abstract. Objectives: To examine the extent to which the Utstein style has been used for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) research since its publication in 1991. The style was developed in an effort to standardize OOHCA research and reporting. Methods: To locate all OOHCA research papers published between 1992 and 1997, all issues of six emergency medicine/emergency medical services (EM/ EMS) journals were examined manually, and papers from other journals were located using computerized searches. All located articles were examined by the first author to determine whether use of the Utstein style was indicated and if so, whether it had actually been used. When either of these was uncertain, all three authors reviewed the paper, and a consensus was reached. The Pearson chi-square test was used to compare rates of use from U.S. and non-U.S. institutions, and from the EM/EMS and non-EM/EMS literature, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: All 143 OOHCA research articles identified by the search were examined. The Utstein style was found to be not applicable to 41 (29%), and these were eliminated. The Utstein style was indicated for the remaining 102 studies. Of these, 41 (40%) used the Utstein style, and 61 (60%) did not. There was no difference in rates between papers from sites in the United States (18/48, 38%) and elsewhere (23/54, 43%), or between papers from the EM/EMS literature (17/44, 39%) and non-EM/EMS literature (25/59, 42%). Despite an upward trend in the use of the Utstein style seen from 1992 to 1994, use leveled off from 1994 to 1997, and has not exceeded 60% in any given calendar year studied. Conclusions: Six years after the release of the Utstein style for OOHCA research, fewer than 60% of OOHCA research articles actually use the style.

Development of a data dictionary for the Strategies for Post Arrest Resuscitation Care (SPARC) network for post cardiac arrest research

“…3 Although the adoption of the Utstein style has met with certain challenges, [20][21][22] its contributors recognized the value of standardized data variables. Collection of standardized variables enables meaningful comparisons and analyses within and between studies.…”

“…The Utstein standard for cardiac arrest and post resuscitation research includes a large number of variables, however data collection of many of these variables pose several challenges. [20][21][22] These challenges include collecting and managing the large number of data variables as well as the use of different nomenclature by different countries and health care systems. In addition, as treatment of cardiac arrest patients becomes more sophisticated, several important variables are missing, including those important in post resuscitation care.…”

L’arrêt cardiaque en France : pourquoi un registre national ?

“…D'ailleurs dans la majorité des registres, un système de codification des données est mis en place. La complexité des directives d'Utstein est la cause de données enregistrées souvent incomplètes, car difficiles à remplir par les équipes préhospitalières [16]. Aussi, en 2004, une version simplifiée du questionnaire d'Utstein a été proposée [17].…”

Why Are Researchers and Emergency Medical Services Managers Not Using the Utstein Guidelines?

“…1 Faculty members in the department of emergency medicine at the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Cone and colleagues report that in five years, from 1992 through 1997, 102 articles were published that ''should have reported'' their results using the Utstein style. The authors identified these articles using handsearching of six emergency medical services (EMS) journals, plus two electronic databases.…”