Public knowledge and expectations about dispatcher assistance in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: To assess the factors associated with the knowledge and expectations among the general public about dispatcher assistance in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents.

Background: In medical dispatch centres, emergency calls are frequently operated by specially trained nurses as dispatchers. In cardiac arrest incidents, efficient communication between the dispatcher and the caller is vital for prompt recognition and treatment of the cardiac arrest.

Design: A cross-sectional observational survey containing six questions and seven demographic items.

Method: From January-June 2017 we conducted standardized interviews among 500 members of the general public in Norway. In addition to explorative statistical methods, we used multivariate logistic analysis.

Results: Most participants expected cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructions, while few expected "help in deciding what to do." More than half regarded the bystanders present to be responsible for the decision to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Most participants were able to give the correct emergency medical telephone number. The majority knew that the emergency call would not be terminated until the ambulance arrived at the scene. However, only one-third knew that the emergency telephone number operator was a trained nurse.

Conclusion: The public expect cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructions from the emergency medical dispatcher. However, the majority assume it is the responsibility of the bystanders to make the decision to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation or not. Based on these findings, cardiopulmonary resuscitation training initiatives and public campaigns should focus more on the role of the emergency medical dispatcher as the team leader of the first resuscitation team in cardiac arrest incidents.