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Table 2 Study Characteristics of Included Studies

From: Impact of dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation on neurologically intact survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review

Author, year of publication

Study period

Location

Study design

Data source / name of registry

Population/ Inclusion criteria

Dispatcher protocol

Quality, NOS score

Chang et al., 2018 [37]

01.2012–12.2015

Korea, nationwide

Retrospective cohort study

Korean National OHCA Registry, EMS run sheets for ambulance information & EMS cardiac arrest and dispatcher CPR registries.

Paediatric (≤18yo).

Excluded: If no EMS resuscitation effort; if missing information on bystander CPR or neurological outcome.

Pediatric BLS, including ventilations < 9 years of age.

7 (Selection 4; Comparability 0; Outcome 3)

Eisenberg et al., 1985 [17]

05.1981–12.1982

USA, Washington, King County

Before-after study

Database of King County Emergency Services Division, medical records & telephone recordings.

Non-specified age; cardiac etiology.

Standard BLS starting with ventilations.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Goto et al., 2014 [38]

01.2008–12.2012

Japan, nationwide

Retrospective cohort study

Fire and Disaster Management

Agency’s (FDMA) nationwide registry.

Paediatric (< 18 yo).

Compression only.

Standard BLS to trained bystander.

7 (Selection 4; Comparability 0; Outcome 3)

Harjanto et al., 2016 [39]

04.2010–02.2013

Singapore

Before-after study

PAROS (Pan Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study), telephone recordings, EMS- and patient records.

Non-specified age; cardiac etiology.

Excluded: If a DNR order existed.

Compression only.

Standard BLS if suspected hypoxia.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Hasselqvist et al., 2015 [7]

01.1990–12.2011

Sweden, nationwide

Retrospective cohort study

Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Non-specified age; witnessed arrest.

Instructions changed during study period.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Hiltunen et al., 2015 [40]

03.2010–08.2010

Finland, southern and eastern regions

Prospective cohort study

EMS registry with dispatch and EMS reports, The Finnish Population Information System & National Institute of Health and Welfare.

Non-specified age; witnessed arrest; shockable rhythm; arrest recognized by the dispatcher.

Compression only.

Standard BLS if suspected hypoxia.

9 (Selection 4; Comparability 2; Outcome 3)

Kuisma et al., 2005 [41]

01.1997–12.2002

Finland, Helsinki

Retrospective cohort study

EMS cardiac arrest registry.

Non-specified age; witnessed arrest; cardiac etiology; ventricular fibrillation.

From 2000 compression only.

Standard BLS if suspected hypoxia.

9 (Selection 4; Comparability 2; Outcome 3)

Lewis et al., 2013 [42]

01.2011–12.2011

USA, Washington, King County

Retrospective cohort study

King County EMS Department records.

Adults; cardiac arrest recognised by dispatcher.

Excluded: If traumatic etiology; if arrest in a medical facility; if emergency call handled by a nonparticipating dispatch center.

Compression only.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Oman et al., 2016 [43]

01.2011–12.2012

Ireland, regional centre

Retrospective cohort study

OHCAR (Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry).

Adult and paediatric; bystander next to the patient.

Not specified.

7 (Selection 4; Comparability 0; Outcome 3)

Park et al., 2018 [44]

01.2012–12.2015

Korea, nationwide

Retrospective cohort study

EMS cardiac arrest & dispatcher CPR registry.

Adult; cardiac etiology. Excluded: If no EMS resuscitation effort; if missing information on neurological outcome at discharge.

Compression only.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Rea et al., 2001 [25]

1983–2000

USA, Washington, King County

Retrospective cohort study

Database of King County Emergency Services Division & patient records.

Adult; cardiac etiology.

Standard BLS starting with ventilations.

9 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

Shibahashi et al. 2019 [45]

01.2010–12.2016

Japan, nationwide

Retrospective cohort study

Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s (FDMA) nationwide registry.

Adult. Excluded: if transported by a physician-manned ambulance; if resuscitation was not attempted; if missing outcomes.

Not specified.

6 (Selection 4; Comparability 0; Outcome 2)

Viereck et al., 2017 [46]

01.2013–12.2013

Denmark, capital region

Retrospective cohort study

Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry, the Mobile Critical Care Unit database & Danish Civil Registration System.

Non-specified age; bystander CPR provided; EMS treated. Excluded: If missing information on or time for initiation of bystander CPR; if missing emergency call record.

Compression only.

Standard BLS if trained bystander.

7 (Selection 4; Comparability 0; Outcome 3)

Wu et al., 2018 [47]

01.2011–12.2014

USA, Arizona

Retrospective cohort study

Save Hearts in Arizona Registry and Education (SHARE) Program.

Adult; cardiac etiology. Excluded: if arrest in medical facility; if a DNR order existed; if EMS witnessed, if missing emergency call record; if call was transferred from another agency.

Compression only.

8 (Selection 4; Comparability 1; Outcome 3)

  1. Standard BLS includes all protocols including compressions and ventilations incl. protocols starting with ventilations and pediatric BLS
  2. BLS basic life support, CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation, DNR do not resuscitate, EMS emergency medical services, OHCA out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, NOS Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, yo years old