Skills among young and elderly laypersons during simulated dispatcher assisted CPR and after CPR training

Background Dispatcher assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA‐CPR) increase the rate of bystander CPR. The aim of the study was to compare the performance of DA‐CPR and attainable skills following CPR training between young and elderly laypersons. Methods Volunteer laypersons (young: 18–40 years; elderly: > 65 years) participated. Single rescuer CPR was performed in a simulated DA‐CPR cardiac arrest scenario and after CPR training. Data were obtained from a manikin and from video recordings. The primary endpoint was chest compression depth. Results Overall, 56 young (median age: 26, years since last CPR training: 6) and 58 elderly (median age: 72, years since last CPR training: 26.5) participated. Young laypersons performed deeper (mean (SD): 56 (14) mm vs. 39 (19) mm, P < 0.001) and faster (median (25th–75th percentile): 107 (97–112) per min vs. 84 (74–107) per min, P < 0.001) chest compressions compared to elderly. Young laypersons had shorter time to first compression (mean (SD): 71 (11) seconds vs. 104 (38) seconds, P < 0.001) and less hands‐off time (median (25th–75th percentile): 0 (0–1) seconds vs. 5 (2–10) seconds, P < 0.001) than elderly. After CPR training chest compressions were performed with a depth (mean (SD): 64 (8) mm vs. 50 (14) mm, P < 0.001) and rate (mean (SD): 111 (11) per min vs. 93 (18) per min, P < 0.001) for young and elderly laypersons respectively. Conclusion Despite long CPR retention time for both groups, elderly laypersons had longer retention time, and performed inadequate DA‐CPR compared to young laypersons. Following CPR training the attainable CPR level was of acceptable quality for both young and elderly laypersons.