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. 2022 Nov 14:12:100330.
doi: 10.1016/j.resplu.2022.100330. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Public attitudes towards bystander CPR and their association with social deprivation: Findings from a cross sectional study in North England

Karl Charlton  1 , Jason Scott  2 , Laura Blair  1 , Stephanie Scott  3 , Graham McClelland  1 , Tom Davidson  4 , Emma Burrow  1 , Alex Mason  1
Affiliations

Public attitudes towards bystander CPR and their association with social deprivation: Findings from a cross sectional study in North England

Karl Charlton et al. Resusc Plus. .

Abstract

Background: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) is undertaken in only 40% of out of hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in the UK. Lower rates of BCPR and public access defibrillator (PAD) use have been correlated with lower socio-economic status (SES). The aim of this study was to examine knowledge and attitudes towards BCPR and PAD's using a study specific questionnaire, and to understand how these potentially interact with individual characteristics and SES.

Methods: Cross-sectional study between July-December 2021 across areas of varying SES in North England.

Results: Six hundred and one individuals completed the survey instrument (mean age = 51.9 years, 52.2 % female). Increased age was associated with being less willing to call 999 (p < 0.001) and follow call handler advice (p < 0.001). Female respondents were less comfortable performing BCPR than male respondents (p = 0.006). Individuals from least deprived areas were less likely to report comfort performing CPR, (p = 0.016) and less likely to know what a PAD is for, (p = 0.025). Higher education level was associated with increased ability to recognise OHCA (p = 0.005) and understanding of what a PAD is for (p < 0.001). Individuals with higher income were more likely to state they would follow advice regarding BCPR (p = 0.017) and report comfort using a PAD (p = 0.029).

Conclusion: Individual characteristics such as age and ethnicity, rather than SES, are indicators of knowledge, willingness, and perceived competency to perform BCPR. Policy makers should avoid using SES alone to target interventions. Future research should examine how cultural identity and social cohesion intersect with these characteristics to influence willingness to perform BCPR.

Keywords: Bystander help; Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; Defibrillator; Deprivation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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