Community first response and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Identifying priorities for data collection, analysis, and use via the nominal group technique

Abstract

Aim Community First Response (CFR) is an important component of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest management in many countries, including Ireland. Reliable, strategic data collection and analysis are required to support the development of CFR. However, data on CFR are currently limited in Ireland and internationally. This research aimed to identify the most important CFR data to record, the most important uses of CFR data, and barriers and facilitators to CFR data collection and use. Methods The Nominal Group Technique structured consensus process was used. An expert panel comprising key stakeholders, including volunteers, clinicians, researchers, policy-makers, and a patient, completed a survey to generate lists of the most important CFR data to record and the most important uses of CFR data. Subsequently, they participated in a consensus meeting to agree the top ten priorities from each list. They also identified barriers and facilitators to CFR data collection and use. Results The top ten CFR data items to record included volunteer response time, interventions/activities completed by volunteers, and the mental/physical impact on volunteers. The top ten most important uses of CFR data included providing feedback to volunteers, improving volunteer training, and measuring CFR effectiveness. Barriers included time constraints and limited training. Facilitators included having appropriate software/equipment and collecting minimal data. Conclusion The results can guide CFR research and inform the development of CFR data collection and analysis policy and practice in Ireland and internationally. Ultimately, improving CFR data collection and use will help to optimise this important intervention and enhance its evidence base.

Adapting the Nominal Group Technique to a virtual version: an experience report

“…Even so, there is an incentive for future studies to consider these adaptations in order to make qualitative studies more accessible ( 16 ) . The literature already presents studies that have applied the NGT adapted due to the context of the pandemic ( 1 , 17 , 18 ) . However, these studies do not describe in detail what adaptations were made to the method ( 19 , 20 ) .…”

Adaptação da Técnica de Grupo Nominal para versão virtual: relato de experiência

“…Ainda assim, há um incentivo para que estudos futuros considerem essas adaptações para tornar os estudos qualitativos mais acessíveis (16) . A literatura já apresenta estudos que aplicaram a TGN adaptada devido ao contexto da pandemia (1,17,18) . No entanto, estes estudos não descrevem detalhadamente quais as adaptações feitas ao método (19,20) .…”

Outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Ireland 2012-2020: Protocol for an observational study

“…For instance, little data is available on community first responder activations over the relevant time period 40 . Furthermore, the involvement of these responders in the OHCA care process has traditionally not been well captured although recent efforts will address this data deficit into the future 36 . Ultimately if system developments are found to be associated with key outcomes it may be that in reality other confounding variables are in fact driving these outcomes.…”

“…eCPR is generally not available in Ireland. In addition to statutory EMS providers, Ireland also has an extensive network of voluntary community first responders (CFRs) who can be dispatched by NEOC to OHCA to provide early CPR and defibrillation 35 , 36 .…”