Abstract 18471: A Teachable Moment: Clinically Stable Emergency Department Patients and Their Companions are Willing to Learn Compression-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Introduction: Bystander CPR is uncommonly performed in out of hospital cardiac arrest patients transported to our Emergency Department (ED). ED visits are brief and complex, but represent a valuable opportunity to teach CPR to members of our community. Our objective was to determine what percentage of ED patients and their companions are willing to learn compression-only CPR. Hypothesis: The majority of ED patients and their companions are willing to learn compression-only CPR. Methods: A convenience sample of clinically stable adults age 18-70 from two urban, academic EDs with socioeconomically diverse patient populations was recruited. Patients in hallways and non-english speakers were excluded. Subjects were asked to complete a pre-video survey to assess baseline knowledge and willingness to perform CPR, watch a 60-second previously validated CPR instructional video, and then complete a post-training CPR survey. Consenting patients were asked if they thought their ED visit was related to their heart. All study subjects were categorized as: 1. patient or companion, and 2. cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular complaint. Subjects who did not consent were asked to share reasons for not participating. Data were entered into a REDCap database. Results: Between 1/1/15 to 6/7/15, 281 patients and their companions were approached about study participation. Mean age was 47, 66% female, 68% African American, and 69% had a college education. 73 believed their visit was related to their heart. 70% were patients, and the remainder were their companions. Overall, 229 (82%) were willing to learn compression-only CPR. 51 of 52 shared reasons for not participating. Reasons included: not feeling well (29%), already CPR trained (16%), and not interested (16%). Patients who thought their ED visit was related to their heart and their companions were equally likely to participate than those who did not (80% vs 83%). Conclusion: In two diverse, academic EDs, 82% of medically stable adult patients and their companions were willing to learn compression-only CPR.