Effectiveness of a Brief Educational Video on the Correct Placement of Automated Chest Compression Devices: A Prospective Study

Objective The time to the onset of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is directly correlated with the chance of survival for cardiac arrest. The use of automated chest compression devices, such as the LUCAS, has become a common means of performing CPR. We sought to determine whether an educational intervention improves the correct placement of an automated chest compression device, and to identify whether placement accuracy varies by performer profession or years of experience. Methods Emergency department technicians, nurses, residents, and attending physicians were recruited to perform placement of a LUCAS device before and after watching an educational video created by the LUCAS manufacturer. The correct placement of an automated chest compression device was determined by three different emergency medicine attending physicians, using manufacturer instructions. The distance between the volunteer's placement of the LUCAS and the ideal placement location, before and after watching the educational video, was recorded. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the pre- and post-education measurements. Results A total of 50 employees participated in the study. The median distance from correct placement was 3.2 cm prior to the educational intervention and 3.3 cm after the educational intervention, indicating no significant change. There was no difference in the accuracy of device placement when comparing physicians and non-physicians. There was no relationship between years of experience and the accuracy of device placement. All participants found participating in the educational intervention useful. Conclusion In this small, single-system, prospective study, we found that a single, brief, passive educational intervention does not improve the correct placement of an automated chest compression device. Additional data are needed to understand how this video might be utilized in an ongoing quality improvement project or as part of a larger, integrated educational intervention study.