The use of dispatcher assistance in improving the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A randomised controlled trial

The introduction of dispatcher assistance (DA) services has led to increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) participation rates. However, the extent to which DA improves CPR quality remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of DA in improving CPR quality among healthcare professionals and laypersons within a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian population. A parallel, randomised controlled, open label trial was performed. Four hundred and twelve participants were recruited via convenience sampling in a public location. In a simulated cardiac-arrest scenario, the participants were randomised to perform CPR with DA over the phone (DA+) or CPR without DA (DA-). The ratio of participant assignment to DA+ and DA- was 1:1. The primary outcomes were CPR compression depth, compression rate, no-flow time, complete release of pressure between compressions, and hand location. The assessment involved CPR manikins and human assessors. A larger proportion of participants in DA + achieved the correct compression rate (34.3% vs 18.1%, p