(duplicate) (duplicate) The First “First Responder” Compltd vrsn
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The First “First Responder”: Understanding bystander actions, experience, and well being in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)
IRAS ID
186514
Contact name
Gareth Clegg
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not applicable, EMERGE Research Group Trials www.emergeresearch.org/trials/
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 2 days
Research summary
The First “First Responder” Study seeks to understand the actions, experience, and impact on well being of non-medically trained persons who assist a victim of cardiac arrest. This study will be conducted over a one-year period in the Edinburgh, Scotland, area, and is funded by the UK Resuscitation Council. Although the actions of bystanders at a cardiac arrest have a very big impact on the chances of survival and good outcome for the person who has had the cardiac arrest, very little is known about what actually occurs for the non-medically trained person suddenly confronted by someone in cardiac arrest.
This research will be performed via interviews and inventories, conducted by a researcher in one-on-one conversation with bystanders who volunteer to participate, over a several week period following their bystander responder experience.
It is important to gain a better understanding of the bystander’s experience for several compelling reasons. The first is impact on victim outcomes. Actions that happen very soon after the cardiac arrest have the best chance to improve outcomes. Understanding what occurs for the bystander, and how actions are taken or not taken, will allow us to evaluate what steps might be taken to improve the process – and thereby improve outcomes for victims. The information gained can be used to inform and improve public education efforts, public policy debates, and emergency medical systems design changes.
A further compelling reason to study the bystander responder’s experience is the well being of the bystander. It is not known whether unexpected, and often unprepared, involvement in a cardiac arrest causes harm to the bystander, in terms of psychological trauma and associated symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. If there are negative consequences, it is important to identify them, so that appropriate support can be provided.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
15/SS/0128
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion