Dispatcher-assisted AED use in single-rescuer cardiac arrest: study protocol for a randomized simulation study comparing standard and optimized dispatcher-assisted CPR instructions.
Resuscitation Plus · 2026-07-01 · Study protocol
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although automated external defibrillators (AEDs) improve outcomes in shockable rhythms, their use introduces interruptions in chest compressions. In single-rescuer scenarios, AED retrieval and application may further increase no-flow time. The effect of dispatcher instruction strategy on these interruptions remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate whether AED-optimized dispatcher-assisted CPR (DACPR) instructions reduce no-flow time compared with standard instructions in a simulated single-rescuer OHCA setting. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group simulation trial will include adult laypersons and healthcare professionals. Participants will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either standard or AED-optimized DACPR instruction groups. All scenarios will be conducted in a controlled simulation environment with standardized AED accessibility (≤1 min retrieval distance) to isolate the effect of dispatcher communication on CPR performance. The primary outcome will be total no-flow time. Secondary outcomes include chest compression fraction, time to first compression, time to first shock, peri-shock pauses, and CPR quality metrics. DISCUSSION: This study investigates dispatcher instruction as a modifiable determinant of CPR interruption during AED use in single-rescuer scenarios. Findings will provide mechanistic insight into how communication strategies influence CPR quality under controlled conditions and may inform refinement of DACPR protocols. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the University of Pécs (PTE/87175-1/2025). Written informed consent will be obtained. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07520877, prospectively registered on 8 April 2026.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Automated external defibrillator · Bystanders · Communication & handover
Related articles
- "I Don't Speak English Well." Do Language Barriers Affect Automated External Defibrillator Use? A Randomized Simulation Study With Spanish-Speaking Laypeople. (Simul Healthc, 2025)
- The use of drone-delivered Automated External Defibrillators in the emergency response for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A simulation study. (Resusc Plus, 2025)
- Bystanders' attitudes towards drone delivered Automated External Defibrillators for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A qualitative interview study. (PLoS One, 2025)
- Performance of cellular phones with video telephony in the use of automated external defibrillators by untrained laypersons. (Emerg Med J, 2008)
- Dispatching citizens as first responders to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Eur J Emerg Med, 2022)
- Factors associated with automated external defibrillator use in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by type of lay rescuers: a Japanese nationwide, population-based descriptive study. (Resuscitation, 2026)