Background: The general public is unfamiliar with the concept of medical drones delivering life-saving technologies. Our research sought to define stakeholder attitudes towards development of drone-based emergency care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: Using qualitative methodology, we explored key stakeholder attitudes about using a drone to deliver automated external defibrillators (AED), challenges and facilitators to early establishment of a drone AED network, implementation considerations, and factors related to long-term sustainability. We identified 22 key individuals as potential respondents based on professional position; 16 respondents participated in data collection. Research participants included leaders in government, healthcare, emergency services, business, community, and the aviation industry (regulation and drone operation). Interview data were recorded and transcribed; data were analyzed using NVivo. A coding schema was developed based on constructs identified in previous literature and inductive consideration of this study’s data, including both thematic and descriptive coding. Results: We found broad support for a drone-delivered AED network. Such a network was perceived as valuable for reduced response times and for enhanced access to hard-to-reach areas. Identified challenges included operationalizing an autonomous drone AED network, privacy and safety concerns, current legal and regulatory requirements, financial liabilities, public buy-in and concern for public actually using an AED, and the need for research on treatment and cost- effectiveness of a drone network. Facilitators of development for a drone AED network included solidifying key partnerships (including integration into current EMS or fire services), identifying viable funding from private and public entities, and learning from existing drone models (e.g. commercial package or medical supply delivery). Conclusion: This study found general and conceptual support for the development of a drone network for AED delivery across key informants from an array of related fields. Such information should be considered in developing a regional drone AED network.
Background: Drones have great potential to speed the delivery of AEDs in the critical first few minutes of OHCA. However, it is unclear whether bystanders can balance high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with AED deployment. The 2015 AHA CPR guidelines recommend a chest compression (cc) rate of 100-120/minute, cc depth of 50-60mm, and cc fraction of >60%. Method: We performed mock cardiac arrest simulations using bystander volunteers, including simulated 911 call, telephone-assisted dispatcher CPR instructions, bystander CPR, drone-delivered AED, and AED application. CPR performance was recorded by a Laerdal Resusci Anne Quality Feedback System and compared between two groups of participants: recent CPR training (<2 years) versus remote (>2 years) or no CPR training. Prior data had shown CPR skill degradation after 2 years. Chi-squared tests compared demographics; T-tests compared age and CPR performance data. Results: Between 9/2019-3/2020, 5 simulations were conducted with 51 participants. The mean age was 39.7 years, 56.9% were female, and 78.4% had a college or graduate degree. Racial/ethnic makeup consisted of 64.7% White, 15.7% African-American, 15.7% Asian, and 11.8% Hispanic. 41.2% had recent CPR training (n=21); 58.8% had remote CPR training (n=19) or no CPR training (n=11). There were no differences in demographics by CPR training groups. Participants with recent CPR training had shorter time from CPR initiation to AED shock delivery (3:45 vs. 4:14 [min:sec], p=0.01) and a trend toward higher percent of time with cc depth (77.4% vs 50.4%, p=0.11) and higher cc fraction (46.8% vs 42.9 %, p=0.12). There were no differences for percent of time with cc rate or CPR recoil. Conclusion: Overall, CPR quality was low regardless of prior CPR training status. Those recently trained had shorter resuscitation time and appeared to have better CPR performance. Realization of a drone AED networks may require novel CPR programs focused on high-quality CPR.
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