A new study says that CPR performed by males is more effective than CPR performed by females.
A new study conducted by the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland found that women simply aren’t as effective as men are with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Influence of Gender on the Performance of Cardiopulmonary Rescue Teams: A Randomized, Prospective Simulator Study.
The project studied the differences between women and men in the execution of CPR as well as their leadership skills during the lifesaving procedure. Earlier studies indicated that the effective leadership and communication during CPR increases the odds of survival for the casualty.
Certain to breed much controversy, the study say s that women take longer to act, spend less time with their hands on the patient, and are less likely to take control of the situation.
American CPR Training®, ILCOR< ECC, and otherguidelines say giving early, uninterrupted chest compressions and breaths is vital when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
216 medical school students were recruited for the study and were split evenly as 108 female and 108 male rescuers. The research team ran a simulated cardiac arrest scenario and monitored each student’s performance, measuring them on “hands-on time,” which is considered the first three minutes of uninterrupted chest compressions after a patient falls into cardiac arrest.
The female teams took an average of 109 seconds before placing their hands on the patient, compared with 70 seconds for men. The female teams had their hands on the patient for just 87 seconds in the first three minutes of care, compared with 109 seconds for men.
The students were also graded on their level of leadership by tracking the number of times they took control of the situation and directed others on how to assist, or explained clearly what or how to perform a task.
The simulations were completed in same-sex teams and then again in mixed-gender teams.
The authors found a significant difference in the quality of care when it came to comparing men to women.
Study Objectives: Little is known about the influence of gender on resuscitation performance which may improve future education in resuscitation. The aim of this study was to compare female and male rescuers in regard to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and leadership performance.
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The female-only teams also showed less leadership communication compared with the male-only teams. Even in mixed teams, women made significantly fewer clear leadership statements than their male counterparts.
Professor Sabina Hunziker, the study leader, stated in a university news release that even though men and women may understand CPR all the same, better training standards and practices would be especially helpful for young female physicians.
“This suggests that more targeted measures need to be introduced to prepare and train women for emergency situations,” says Hunziker.
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