Self-Instructional Kiosk May Increase Training of Hands-Only CPR

The public has expressed considerable interest in learning “Hands-Only” cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to a prospective observational study published in Resuscitation.

As part of an ongoing effort to train more lay people on performing CPR, researchers from the American Heart Association evaluated a new approach to teach “Hands-Only CPR” to the public using self-instructional kiosks at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport from July 2013 to February 2016.

The kiosk included a touch-screen computer that was connected to a high-fidelity mannequin. Participants began by selecting the “practice-while-watching” option on the touch screen, which initiated a 1-minute instructional video. Participants practiced chest compressions for 30 seconds on the mannequin while following along with the video. The sensor inside the mannequin recorded chest compression rate and depth, as well as hand placement. Real-time feedback was provided to each participant. At the end of the practice session, participants had the option of performing a 30-second CPR test and receiving a score. The score was determined by the total number of correct compressions divided by the total number of attempted compressions.

During the course of the study, more than 23,000 visits (n=23,478; 734 participants per month) to the Hands-Only CPR kiosk were documented, as well as 9006 test sessions. During the practice sessions, 26.2% of participants achieved the correct chest compression rate, 60.2% achieved the correct chest compression depth, and 63.5% used the correct hand position.  

According to the researchers, the kiosk represents a new, innovative approach to increase the rates of public training in Hands-Only CPR. Despite the lack of advertising and active recruitment, there was a considerable draw to the kiosk. To increase engagement in the future, the researchers suggested posting advertisements in the airport itself, additional kiosks in other terminals and lounges, and airline incentives to complete the full program.

“There is a noticeable public interest in learning Hands-Only CPR by using an airport kiosk, but the quality of Hands-Only CPR taught in this manner needs improvement,” the researchers wrote. “Adding more kiosks to other locations in the airport could reach more passengers and could be replicated in other major airports in the United States.”

Study Limitations

• No participant background was documented. 
• Participants may have had prior experience or knowledge of CPR.
• The terminal where the kiosk was located is for US domestic flights only so there may have been a language barrier for some passengers since the instructions were only available in English.

Reference

Chang MP, Gent LM, Sweet M, Potts J, Ahtone J, Idris AH. A novel educational outreach approach to teach hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the public. Resuscitation. 2017;116:22-26. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.04.028