Objective performance of emergency medical technicians in the use of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared with subjective self-evaluation: a cross-sectional, simulation-based study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the subjective and objective resuscitation performance of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) using mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (MCPR) devices.Design and settingThis was a cross-sectional simulation-based study where participants installed the MCPR device on a training manikin.ParticipantsWe assessed EMT-Intermediates (EMT-Is) and EMT-Paramedics (EMT-Ps) of the Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) Division of the Taipei City Fire Department.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the gap between self-perceived (subjective) and actual (objective) no-flow time during resuscitation, which we hypothesised as statistically insignificant. The secondary outcome was the association between resuscitation performance and personal attributes like knowledge, attitude and self-confidence.ResultsAmong 210 participants between 21 and 45 years old, only six were female. There were 144 EMT-Is and 66 EMT-Ps. During a simulated resuscitation lasting between four and a half and 5 min, EMTs had longer actual no-flow time compared with self-perceived no-flow time (subjective, 38 s; objective, 57.5 s; p value