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. 2021 Mar;8(1):1-8.
doi: 10.15441/ceem.20.053. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Public awareness and willingness to use automated external defibrillators in a metropolitan city

Jae Hyuk Lee  1 , Dong Eun Lee  2 , Hyun Wook Ryoo  1 , Sungbae Moon  1 , Jae Wan Cho  1 , Yun Jeong Kim  2 , Jong Kun Kim  2 , Jung Ho Kim  3 , Kyung Woo Lee  4 , Sang-Chan Jin  5 , Jun Seok Seo  6
Affiliations

Public awareness and willingness to use automated external defibrillators in a metropolitan city

Jae Hyuk Lee et al. Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Early defibrillation is crucial for the survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study aimed to examine the trends and associated factors regarding public awareness and willingness to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) through citywide surveys.

Methods: Three-round surveys were conducted in February 2012 (n=1,000), December 2016 (n=1,141), and December 2018 (n=1,001) among citizens in Daegu, South Korea, who were aged ≥19 years. The subjects were selected through a three-stage quota sampling. Awareness and willingness to use an AED were assessed in the three groups. The primary outcome was willingness to use AEDs.

Results: Of 3,142 respondents, 3,069 were eligible for analysis. The proportion of respondents who knew how to use AEDs increased from 4.7% in 2012 to 20.8% in 2018. Of the respondents in 2012, 2016, and 2018, 39.7%, 50.0%, and 43.2%, respectively, were willing to use an AED. Factors associated with willingness to use AEDs were male sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.75), cardiopulmonary resuscitation training experience in the previous 2 years (AOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.43-2.28), recognition of the Good Samaritan law (AOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.13-1.86), and awareness of how to use an AED (AOR, 4.40; 95% CI, 3.26-5.93).

Conclusion: To increase willingness to use AEDs, education in AED use and the Good Samaritan law, along with re-education to maintain knowledge of AED use, should be considered.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Defibrillators; Surveys and questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Study flow diagram. AED, automated external defibrillator; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Comparison of awareness and willingness to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) according to study group.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Factors associated with willingness to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Forest plot shows the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each factor, calculated in the final stepwise logistic regression models. Sex, age, educational status, monthly income, confidence in ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AED awareness, prior CPR training experience, and recognition of the Good Samaritan law were included as independent variables.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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