Back Plate Marking of a Mechanical Chest Compression Device to Reduce the Duration of Chest Compression Interruptions

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of applying the back plate marking method vs the standard method, to a mechanical chest compression device, in regards to reducing the duration of chest compression interruptions during a simulated cardiac arrest. METHODS: An experimental study, one group pretest posttest design, conducted in a university-based hospital from November 2020 to October 2021. The study recruited 20 participants including emergency medical residents and paramedics. The participants were randomized into three-person teams and applied the device in both standard and back plate marking methods in sequential order. Teams were required to use a mechanical chest compression device in a manikin-based OHCA simulation to assess performance. RESULTS: The median time pause for the deployment of the upper part of the device was significantly reduced (16 vs 21s, P < 0.01) in the back plate marking method, as was the total pause for device deployment (31.5 vs 38.75s, P = 0.03) and the proportion of total hands-off time attributable to device application interruption (43.08% vs 49.18%, P = 0.02). There was no difference between groups in the duration of all compression interruptions (70.5 vs 82.75s, P = 0.20) and compression fractions (77.85 vs 76.91%, P = 0.19). CONCLUSION: The back plate marking method was a significantly reduced time of the deployment of the upper part of the device and in regards to the overall pause for device deployment, but there was no difference in CPR quality between the two methods.