Outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by anaphylaxis: A nationwide population-based observational study.

AIM: The objective of this study was to focus on outcomes of anaphylaxis-associated out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in non-cardiac cases. METHODS: All residents with OHCA due to non-cardiac cause in Japan from 2013 to 2015 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analyses were used to assess outcome-related factors in anaphylaxis cases and non-anaphylaxis cases. The comparison group was comprised of non-anaphylaxis cases, which consisted of other cases of non-cardiac etiology. RESULTS: A total of 375,874 OHCA cases were included, of which 148,598 were due to non-cardiac cause. In these non-cardiac OHCA cases, 147 were due to anaphylaxis, with an annual incidence of 0.04 per 100,000. In the patients' characteristics, witnessed ratio, shockable rhythm, defibrillation by emergency medical services (EMS), and treatment with adrenaline by EMS were significantly greater in the anaphylaxis cases compared with the non-anaphylaxis cases. In anaphylaxis cases, the crude 1-month survival rate (32.7% versus 5.3%) and crude favorable neurological outcomes rate (24.5% versus 2.2%) were higher compared with non-anaphylaxis cases (P < 0.001). The differences in outcomes between the two types of cases were also marked after we adjusted these variables by propensity score matching. By logistic regression analyses, administration of a drug by EMS was negatively associated with good neurological outcomes (odds ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.87), but bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was positively associated with good neurological outcomes (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-5.52). CONCLUSION: Neurological outcome was markedly more favorable in cases with anaphylaxis than non-anaphylaxis cases. Further studies are needed to explain this result.

Heuristic bias in perception of medical students relating to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of medical students with respect to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests focusing on the frequency and survival and to identify potential problems in resuscitation education. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students in a six-year undergraduate educational system were asked to guess the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with cardiac etiology per year in Japan, related data such as the one-month survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with cardiac etiology and the number of deaths from traffic accidents for comparison. The guesses of students were compared with actual statistical data. RESULTS: The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests was clearly underestimated by the students compared to the real statistics. The median guessed number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests ranged from 6000 to 20,000 while the real statistics ranged from 73.023 to 78.302 by year (P â€‹< â€‹0.001 for all years). In contrast, the guessed number of deaths from traffic accidents was markedly overestimated: the median guessed number ranged from 8000 to 20,000 and the real statistics were 3694 to 4438 (P â€‹< â€‹0.001 for all years). The one-month survival rate was also underestimated: the guessed number was 50% and the real rate was 11.5 to 13.5% (P â€‹< â€‹0.001 for all years). CONCLUSIONS: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are underestimated in frequency, and survival after an arrest is overestimated by medical students. To recognize and to understand the heuristic bias in perception of learners is needed for resuscitation education in addition to promote resuscitation skills of learners.

Relationship between evaluation of the teaching environment using DREEM scores and students' school learning scores.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. The results from a comprehensive survey of students' perceptions of their educational environment using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) in our Medical School were compared with students' school learning scores. The subjects (n=495) were medical students beyond their first year of medical school. The students were asked to read each DREEM statement carefully and respond using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with responses ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The mean total DREEM score was 113.4, and there was no significant difference among total DREEM scores for students in different school years. Sixth-year students scored significantly higher than those in the second year for the Academic Self-Perception and Social Self-Perception domains. Females had higher school learning scores and also had better total and Perception of Course Organizers DREEM scores. The DREEM score tended to be lower for those with lower school learning scores, with significant differences found for total, Academic Self-Perception and Social Self-Perception scores. This is the first study to use the DREEM score for Japanese medical students, and further prospective research is required to obtain a complete understanding of the results.

The Current Status of Development and Implementation of Medical Emergency Response Plan in Schools.

BACKGROUND: Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been widely distributed at schools in Japan. We have demonstrated that ventricular fibrillation accounted for 68% of nontraumatic sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in schools, suggesting that a well-prepared medical emergency response plan (MERP) for schools would improve the outcomes of SCA patients. However, it is uncertain if the MERP has been well developed or implemented in Japanese schools. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of schools in Osaka using a postal questionnaire. Survey items included type of school, number of students, school staff and teaching staff, number of AEDs used and the place of installation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to school staff, MERP development and implementation, and the number of SCA cases they experienced. The response rate to this survey was 44% (764 of 1728 schools). Every school except for 4 have installed at least 1 AED. Thirty-six percent of schools, however, have not yet developed and implemented a MERP for SCA. Moreover, 49% of schools surveyed have not conducted a rehearsal training session for SCA in the previous 3 years, although 95% of schools provided CPR training courses to school staff. A total of 15 schools have experienced 16 presumed or actual SCA cases in the study period. Of the 15 schools, 6 schools reported that bystanders experienced psychological stress. CONCLUSIONS: A MERP for SCA has not yet been fully developed and implemented in the schools surveyed in our study despite widely distributed AEDs and CPR training.

Characteristics and trends of emergency patients with drug overdose in Osaka.

Aim: Drug overdose is an important issue in emergency medicine. However, studies covering overdose patients transported by ambulance have not been sufficiently carried out. We attempted to clarify problems of suspected drug overdose patients transported by ambulance. Methods: This is a prospective population-based cohort study. Data were collected by emergency medical service crews in Osaka City, Japan, between January 1998 and December 2010. Results: Drug overdose cases increased annually from 1,136 in 1998 to 1,822 in 2010 (P < 0.0001 for trend). In these cases, the dominant age range was between 16 and 40 years and the age distribution did not change over time. The age of non-overdose cases increased (P < 0.0001 for trend), with patients aged ≥66 years becoming most common in recent years, reflecting the aging of society. Males comprised most non-overdose patients, but the percentage of females increased annually (P < 0.0001 in trend). Females comprised approximately 70% in overdose cases annually throughout the study period. The duration from the emergency call to the arrival at the hospital for overdose patients has increased markedly in recent years. It also takes more time to obtain acceptance from hospitals to care for patients of suspected overdose. Conclusion: The characteristics of drug overdose patients are clearly different from those of non-overdose patients. Recent trends of drug overdose patients indicate the accelerated burden on emergency medical services system.

Assessment of pharmacy students' communication competence using the Roter Interaction Analysis System during objective structured clinical examinations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of using the Roter Interaction Analysis System during objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) to assess pharmacy students' communication competence. METHODS: As pharmacy students completed a clinical OSCE involving an interview with a simulated patient, 3 experts used a global rating scale to assess students' overall performance in the interview, and both the student's and patient's languages were coded using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). The coders recorded the number of utterances (ie, units of spoken language) in each RIAS category. Correlations between the raters' scores and the number and types of utterances were examined. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between students' global rating scores on the OSCE and the number of utterances in the RIAS socio-emotional category but not the RIAS business category. CONCLUSIONS: The RIAS proved to be a useful tool for assessing the socio-emotional aspect of students' interview skills.

Reliability of evaluation for communication competency in pharmaceutical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

In the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), which for pharmaceutical students training, adequate methods should be used for evaluating a student's skill and aptitude for good communication in a medical interview. However, the reliability of the evaluation methods used in the pharmaceutical OSCE has not been investigated sufficiently. In this study, we reviewed the evaluation scores and video recordings obtained in a pharmaceutical OSCE trial, and examined the reasons for disagreement in the scores between two raters. We had two experienced raters in medical communication re-evaluate the students using the vide images, and compared their scores with those on the examination day. The ratio of disagreement was 14.5% (87/600 items in 30 students), and the reason for disagreement could not be identified for 63 items that evaluated communication skills such as 'actively listen' and 'empathy'. A comparison of the scores on examination day and those on re-evaluation revealed a possible reason for the disagreement; the use of a checklist, i.e. binary scores, with criteria that differed between the raters. We suggest that the items used for a detailed performance evaluation be selected carefully and that rating scales be used in order to perform an adequate evaluation, especially regarding communication skill and aptitude.

Effects of BLS training on factors associated with attitude toward CPR in college students.

AIM: In order to elucidate the factors for willingness to perform CPR, we evaluated the responses of college students to questionnaires before and after basic life support (BLS) training. METHODS: Before and after participating in a small group BLS course, 259 students completed questionnaires. A logistic regression model was used to elucidate independent factors for their willingness to attempt resuscitation. RESULTS: Factors associated with willingness to perform BLS for strangers were "anxiety for a bad outcome" (odds ratio (OR) 0.08) and "having knowledge of automated external defibrillator (AED)" (OR 4.5) before training. The proportion of students showing willingness to perform BLS increased from 13% to 77% after the training even when the collapsed person is a stranger. After training, "anxiety for being sued because of a bad outcome" (OR 0.3), and "anxiety for infection" (OR 3.8) were significant factors. Those who preferred to perform BLS without ventilation increased from 40% to 79% (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The proportion of students showing willingness to perform BLS increased after the training. Significant association between "anxiety for infection" and willingness to perform BLS might indicate that those who wish to perform BLS developed their awareness of risk of infection more than the counterparts. For future guidelines for resuscitation and the instruction consensus, the reluctance of bystanders to perform CPR due to the hesitation about mouth-to-mouth ventilation should be reconsidered with other recent reports indicating the advantage of compression-only CPR.

Public perception of and willingness to perform bystander CPR in Japan.

AIM: Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most essential factor for life saving in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. We investigated the characteristics associated with willingness to attempt CPR among the Japanese general population. METHODS: We randomly selected 2400 persons from all over Japan and conducted a questionnaire survey regarding their knowledge, experiences of and attitudes toward CPR. We performed descriptive statistics followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1132 persons (47%) completed the questionnaire. Only 13% of the subjects were willing to attempt bystander CPR for their families and friends, and 7% were willing to attempt bystander CPR for strangers. Willingness to attempt CPR was independently associated with office workers or skilled workers [odds ratio (OR) 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.7], having trained in CPR [OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1-4.6], actual experience with CPR [OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.7-8.3], and having friends with heart diseases [OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.05-3.0]. Having trained in CPR was independently associated with younger age [OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1], office workers or skilled workers [OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.0], having driver's license [OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.4] and awareness of AED placement in a public space [OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3.1]. CONCLUSION: Experience of CPR training closely associated with willingness to attempt CPR, and awareness of AED in a public space are significant factors in CPR training. AED placement might call attention to CPR training and develops willingness to attempt CPR.