Identifying the Barriers to Not Performing Dispatcher-Assisted Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Objective: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation is critical to the survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to identify barriers that lead to not performing dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among ۱۵۱ bystanders of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients registered in emergency medical service from June ۲۰۲۲ to June ۲۰۲۳ in Neyshabur, Iran. The data were collected through a questionnaire and telephone interviews (using a structured questionnaire) with bystanders. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. A two-sided p-value of ۰.۰۵ or lower was considered statistically significant. Analyses were done by R software version ۴.۰.۱. Results: Of ۱۵۱ patients, ۱۸.۹۲% were <۵۰ years, ۶۸.۹۲% were men, in ۶۹% of cases, the arrival time of emergency medical service was less than ۱۰ min, and ۸۴.۴۶% of patients received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene. The most common reason for not performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation by bystanders was "not knowing how to recognize an arrest and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation” (۴۱.۴۸%). Also, ۳۸.۳۵% of the bystanders had been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There was a significant relationship between the callers' familiarity with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p<۰.۰۱). Conclusions: The most common barrier to not performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation by bystanders was a lack of knowledge and skills. Expanding awareness and education among community members about cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, and dispatcher training is critical to helping bystanders improve outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.