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. 2013 Sep 1;6(5):550-8.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.111.000097. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Barriers and facilitators to learning and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in neighborhoods with low bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation prevalence and high rates of cardiac arrest in Columbus, OH

Comilla Sasson  1 , Jason S Haukoos, Cindy Bond, Marilyn Rabe, Susan H Colbert, Renee King, Michael Sayre, Michele Heisler
Affiliations

Barriers and facilitators to learning and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in neighborhoods with low bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation prevalence and high rates of cardiac arrest in Columbus, OH

Comilla Sasson et al. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. .

Abstract

Background: Residents who live in neighborhoods that are primarily black, Latino, or poor are more likely to have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and less likely to survive. No prior studies have been conducted to understand the contributing factors that may decrease the likelihood of residents learning and performing CPR in these neighborhoods. The goal of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to learning and performing CPR in 3 low-income, high-risk, and predominantly black neighborhoods in Columbus, OH.

Methods and results: Community-Based Participatory Research approaches were used to develop and conduct 6 focus groups in conjunction with community partners in 3 target high-risk neighborhoods in Columbus, OH, in January to February 2011. Snowball and purposeful sampling, done by community liaisons, was used to recruit participants. Three reviewers analyzed the data in an iterative process to identify recurrent and unifying themes. Three major barriers to learning CPR were identified and included financial, informational, and motivational factors. Four major barriers were identified for performing CPR and included fear of legal consequences, emotional issues, knowledge, and situational concerns. Participants suggested that family/self-preservation, emotional, and economic factors may serve as potential facilitators in increasing the provision of bystander CPR.

Conclusions: The financial cost of CPR training, lack of information, and the fear of risking one's own life must be addressed when designing a community-based CPR educational program. Using data from the community can facilitate improved design and implementation of CPR programs.

Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation; death, sudden; heart arrest.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. High-Risk Census tracts in Columbus, Ohio
*Boundary of study area (Franklin County, Ohio). High-risk census tracts denoted with dark color.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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