Results of the first-ever, multi-national attitudinal survey concerning the performance of CPR by healthcare professionals were recently presented concurrently with the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. This quantitative survey, conducted by Ipsos, a leading global survey-based market research company, and the CPR Improvement Working Group, formed to help improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill performance, provides a broad analysis of how CPR is performed by healthcare professionals on a multi-national basis.

CPR is one of the most basic life-saving tools employed by healthcare professionals. However, survey results reveal there is a discrepancy between perception and reality when it comes to CPR knowledge and skill level. Highlights of the survey include:

• Perceived Skill Unaligned with Reality—75 percent of healthcare professionals perceive their level of skill at performing CPR as being quite high. However, only 26 percent stated perceived performance of rate, depth and ratio in compliance with the AHA/ILCOR 2005 CPR guidelines.
• Healthcare Professionals Unaware that CPR is Poor—Numerous studies report that CPR performance by healthcare professionals is considered poor, yet the survey results show that very few healthcare professionals are aware of this—55 percent of healthcare professionals surveyed believe that studies report CPR quality is good, very good or excellent.
• CPR Technology is Underutilized—76 percent of healthcare professionals agree that CPR technology can help improve CPR quality and 65 percent agree CPR technology should be used. However, only 36 percent currently use any type of CPR assistance and only 15 percent use CPR assistance with instantaneous feedback, despite the fact studies show CPR technology can improve CPR performance. 
• Need for Increased CPR Training—93 percent of healthcare professionals believe training is extremely valuable. However, less than half report that their organization provides training beyond requirements.

Tested at a 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent, the survey consisted of more than 1,000 respondents, including 454 healthcare professionals in the U.S. and 569 from the UK, France and Germany. Survey respondents included doctors, nurses and paramedics.

During a panel discussion held concurrently with AHA, leading resuscitation experts and CPR Working Group Expert Council Members Dana Edelson, M.D., The University of Chicago Hospital, Vinay Nadkarni, M.D., University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Robert O’Connor, M.D., University of Virginia Medical Center, discussed the survey findings, as well as what needs to be done to improve the quality of CPR in the hospital and ensure increased survival rates following cardiac arrest.

According to Dr. O’Connor, “The survey results help increase understanding of the attitudes of healthcare professionals on CPR and the impact of those attitudes on CPR performance. Given that CPR is frequently performed by healthcare professionals, gaining this insight is critical to improving skill performance and ultimately, to saving lives.” 

When CPR is performed correctly it has the greatest potential to save a life. However, according to numerous studies, including those published in Circulation, Journal of the American Medical Association and Resuscitation, CPR performed both outside and in the hospital setting often does not meet or adhere to standard guidelines. “CPR is a complex, time-sensitive procedure with high stakes where the quality directly impacts patient outcomes,” comments Dr. Edelson. “This insightful survey, coupled with existing clinical research, highlights the major gap between perception and reality in CPR skill and performance of healthcare professionals, stimulating a discussion about how CPR skill level and performance can be improved.”

Numerous studies show that increased training and the use of CPR assistance and feedback devices can greatly improve CPR skill and performance. “With a number of programs and initiatives already underway and AHA/ILCOR issuing revised CPR guidelines in 2010, we have an opportunity as healthcare professionals to improve the current state of CPR and potentially increase patient survival outcomes,” said Dr. Nadkarni.

For more details on the results of the survey, please visit www.ImproveCPR.com.