Overview Summary of Project
This research aims to assess the impact of Community First Responder (CFR) involvement on the outcomes of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) cases within the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) region. The study will focus on the Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rate, alongside secondary outcomes such as bystander interventions and clinical management metrics, comparing CFR-attended and non-CFR-attended cases. It will also examine the specific impact of the Newcastle University First Responder Scheme on OHCA outcomes.
The project will analyse routinely collected OHCA data from 2019 to 2024, using a retrospective cohort design. The primary aim is to investigate whether CFR involvement leads to improved ROSC rates and other clinical outcomes. A secondary focus will be on exploring the effectiveness of the Newcastle University CFR scheme within the NEAS region.
Building on a 2023 analysis of urban and rural OHCA outcomes, this study will expand the dataset to five years of data. This broader scope will allow for a more detailed exploration of CFR impact, specifically whether CFR intervention is linked to improved ROSC at hospital.
The study will use anonymised data from NEAS’s OHCA audit database, including key variables such as CFR dispatch status, bystander CPR, and ROSC rates. Statistical analyses using SPSS will compare outcomes between CFR and non-CFR cases, adjusting for confounders like demographics and response times.
The findings will add to the evidence base on the role of CFRs in OHCA care, providing insights into their effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes. These results will inform future initiatives involving CFRs. The research will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications to the British Paramedic Journal, conference presentations, and internal reports to NEAS and other CFR schemes. This research has received funding from the College of Paramedics small research grant.
