Introduction and Aim

In a sudden cardiac arrest, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), with emphasis on chest compressions, is a fundamental step in the Chain of Survival. However, overall performance remains poor suggesting that frequent training is needed to ensure consistent, effective delivery of CPR and therefore better outcomes[1].

This abstract describes a low-cost prototype that serves as a CPR Personal Trainer (CPR.PT), expecting to facilitate broad and regular training and improve long-term skills retention.

Methods

CPR Personal Trainer consists in a standard (commercialized) CPR training manikin instrumented with off-the-shelf sensors connected to a pre-processing unit and information system.

The signals are analysed and relevant data on performance and effectiveness of chest compressions and ventilations is extracted, namely: chest compressions indicators (hands position, rate, depth and chest recoil), ventilations indicators (head hyperextension and air inflow) and general indicators (hands off-time and correct 30:2 cycles). An overall score based on these indicators is calculated providing a quantitative evaluation of the performance. A second interface gives specific feedback and recommendations to promote skills improvement, together with video demonstrations.

Results

A preliminary study[2] compared the effectivity of the CPR.PT (prototype only, no instructor) against traditional training method (instructor-based). The intervention group (CPR.PT, no instructor) showed significant improvements regarding skills’ acquisition and achieved similar global scores  as the control group (instructor-based traditional training).


Conclusions

It is expected that CPR.PT encourages more frequent training sessions, as it reduces the need for a permanent instructor. It allows regular training with objective feedback, outside formal training courses, not only in healthcare institutions but also in firefighters departments, nursing homes, schools and general public institutions.


References
[1] Perkins GD. Resuscitation (2007) 73(2), 202-211; 
[2] Sá-Couto et al. Porto Biomed J (2018) 3:(1), e8;

7 - CPR Personal Trainer: a low-cost training tool with objective feedback