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Introduction: In many low-income countries, basic prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) remain under-developed, resulting in significant delays or the complete inability to access care. Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of a layperson EMS training targeting motorcycle taxi (boda) drivers in a rural region of Uganda. Methods: Fifty (50) adult boda drivers from Masindi, Uganda were selected for a one-day training course including lectures and simulation. Course content covered basic prehospital skills and transport. Participants were given a first responder kit at completion of the course. Understanding of material was assessed prior to training, immediately after course completion, and four months from the initial course using the same ten question test. Test means were analyzed using a standard linear regression model. At the four-month follow up, all 50 boda drivers participated in semi-structured small group qualitative interviews regarding their perception of the course and experiences implementing course skills in the community. Boda drivers were asked to complete a brief form on each patient transported during the study period. For patients transported to Masindi Kitara Medical Center (MKMC), hospital trauma registry data were analyzed. Results: Trainees showed both knowledge acquisition and retention with pre-test scores of 21.8% improving to 48.0% at course completion and 57.7% at the four-month follow up. Overall, participant’s scores increased by an average of 35% from the pre-test to the second post-test (P <.001). A total of 69 patient forms were completed on transported patients over the initial four-month period. Ninety-five percent (95%) of these were injured patients, and motorcycle crash was the predominant mechanism of injury (48% of injuries). Eight patients were transported to MKMC, but none of these patients were recorded in the hospital trauma registry. Major barriers identified through semi-structured interviews included harassment by police, poor road conditions, and lack of basic resources for transport. Ninety-four percent (94%) of trainees strongly agreed that the training was useful. Total costs were estimated at $3,489 USD, or $69 per trainee. Conclusion: Motorcycle taxi drivers can be trained to provide basic prehospital care in a short time and at a low cost. While there is much enthusiasm for additional training and skill acquisition from this cohort, the sustainability and scalability of such programs is still in question.

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Introduction: Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with worse OHCA outcomes. Whether these trends persist or were consistent between states is unclear. Purpose: To determine the impact of COVID-19 on OHCA incidence and outcomes in Texas between 2019-2020. Methods: We analyzed adult OHCAs in Texas from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) during a matched period (March 11-December 31 from 2019 through 2020). We excluded cases witnessed by 9-1-1 responders and arrests occurring at healthcare facilities. Outcomes were rates of BCPR, AED use, sustained ROSC, prehospital termination of resuscitation (TOR), survival to hospital, survival to hospital discharge, good neurological outcomes and Utstein bystander survival. We created a mixed effects logistic regression model analyzing the effect of the pandemic on outcomes, using EMS agency as the random intercept. We adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, witnessed arrest, initial rhythm type and location type. Results: There were 8,070 OHCA cases, with 4,443 (55.1%) in the pandemic period (March 11 - December 31, 2020) and 3,627 (44.5%) from March 11 - December 31 2019, a relative 18.4% increase. There was a significantly decreased odds of BCPR (46.2% v 42.2%, aOR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.79-0.95), AED use (13.0% v 7.3%, aOR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.36-0.78), and sustained ROSC (28.8% v 21.2%, aOR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.60-0.74) during the pandemic. Survival to hospital (27.1% v 20.9%, aOR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.65-0.80) and survival to hospital discharge (10.0% v 7.4%, aOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.64-0.89) also decreased. Prehospital TOR increased (37.3% v 46.7%, aOR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.35-1.67). The pandemic was associated with a lower Utstein bystander survival rate (58.5% v 52.5%, aOR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.6-0.97). Conclusion: In Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a greater number of OHCA events, with lower overall survival and increased prehospital TOR.

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