Research indicates that television portrayals of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) often contain inaccuracies, which may affect public understanding and willingness to perform the life-saving procedure.
Context of Cardiac Arrests
In the UK, over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually. Globally, only approximately 35-45% of individuals requiring CPR receive it from bystanders. To address this, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the NHS have recommended since 2008 that untrained bystanders perform only chest compressions on adults.
Study Findings on TV Portrayals
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study, published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, analyzing 54 US TV episodes depicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and CPR by laypersons (excluding reality shows and episodes before 2008). Key findings include:
- Only 16 episodes showed compression-only CPR.
- 26 episodes depicted breaths being given alongside compressions.
- 23 episodes showed laypersons checking for a pulse.
Ore Fawole, the lead author, noted that individuals obtain significant health information from television, and the study's observations suggest a potential influence on public perception regarding CPR steps.
Discrepancies in Setting and Demographics
The study also highlighted additional discrepancies between TV depictions and real-life scenarios:
- Only 20% of episodes showed cardiac arrest occurring at home, despite approximately 80% of real-life cases happening in this setting.
- Over half of the fictitious patients receiving CPR were under 40, whereas the average real-life age for cardiac arrest is 62.
- Depictions often showed CPR being performed on and received by white males.
Expert Commentary and Recommendations
Dr. Beth Hoffman, another author, stated that community training participants often inquire about checking pulses or giving breaths, suggesting an influence from on-screen portrayals. Lizzie Moscardini, RevivR programme manager at the British Heart Foundation, emphasized television's impact on real-life actions. She pointed out that while campaigns like the BHF's hands-only CPR advert save lives, inaccurate TV portrayals can create confusion.
Moscardini stressed the importance of quick and correct action during a cardiac arrest and advised that in the UK, 999 call handlers guide callers through chest compressions. She encouraged everyone to learn CPR, referencing the free online tool, RevivR, which teaches skills in 15 minutes.