Qualitative - Mechanical Chest Compression Devices Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are ambulance crews’ experiences of using a mechanical chest compression device for out of hospital resuscitation?
IRAS ID
275607
Contact name
Laura Blair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Should a person have a cardiac arrest (where their heart stops beating) they require treatment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This includes providing chest compressions. Traditionally these compressions are provided by hand but mechanical chest compression devices (MCCD) have been investigated for use in out of hospital resuscitation attempts. Research trials recruiting human participants have concluded recently. They all found no difference in survival outcomes when MCCD and manual compressions were compared.
Despite this, the latest expert review on MCCD suggests that MCCD can be a reasonable alternative to high quality manual compressions when these cannot be provided. MCCD continue to be used by Specialists in the local ambulance service and there is another, as yet under-investigated element, and that is of ambulance crews' experiences of using such devices. Therefore it is a reasonable topic to investigate.
This study will invite local NHS operational ambulance crews to participate in a 1-2 hour online focus group discussion (a collective group discussion) about their experiences of using MCCD. The participants will be any operational ambulance crew member, employed by the local ambulance Trust and who had experience of using any type of MCCD. The focus groups will be audio recorded; participants will be aware of this when they choose to participate.The main potential benefit of this study are to add to the scant literature of this type of using MCCD, with three other secondary outcomes. Ultimately there may of course be benefits for patients by exploring whether MCCD play a part in out of hospital resuscitations. Funding has been offered by a manufacturer one of the types of MCCD; they have had no involvement in the design of the study.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A