PulsePoint App for Cardiac Arrest

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Steven C Brooks, MD MHSc

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Dr. Steven Brooks

Disqualifiers: Traumatic cardiac arrest, dangerous scene, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

Duration: 2 years

340 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether the PulsePoint app, which alerts nearby users in case of cardiac arrest, encourages more people to perform CPR or use a defibrillator before emergency services arrive. The goal is to determine if this app improves outcomes compared to standard emergency call procedures when someone collapses in a public place. Potential participants include individuals who experience a non-traumatic cardiac arrest outside of a hospital or healthcare facility, and in a public location. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative emergency response solutions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the PulsePoint notification system is safe for use in cardiac arrest situations?

Research has shown that the PulsePoint app alerts nearby individuals when someone experiences cardiac arrest. These alerts reach users who have indicated they can perform CPR. The app connects to the 911 system to expedite assistance to the person in need.

Past studies found that the app does not directly affect the user's health. It only sends notifications, unlike a drug or device used on the body.

Therefore, using the app is considered very low risk in terms of safety. It does not involve taking medicine or using a medical device. There are no reports of harmful effects from receiving notifications, indicating the app is well-tolerated by users. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard emergency response systems that rely solely on dispatching emergency vehicles, the PulsePoint notification system brings a community-driven approach to cardiac arrest emergencies. This innovative method pushes real-time alerts to nearby PulsePoint app users, who can provide immediate assistance before professional help arrives. By leveraging the proximity of trained bystanders and the availability of public defibrillators, PulsePoint has the potential to significantly reduce response times and improve survival rates. Researchers are excited about this trial because it could transform how we respond to cardiac emergencies, empowering ordinary citizens to play a crucial role in saving lives.

What evidence suggests that the PulsePoint App is effective for increasing bystander CPR or defibrillator use in cardiac arrest cases?

Research has shown that the PulsePoint app, which participants in this trial may experience, can significantly improve outcomes for individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Studies have found that when PulsePoint users arrive before emergency services, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is performed 80% of the time, a rate much higher than usual without the app. Additionally, the app has been associated with more frequent use of defibrillators, which help restart the heart's normal rhythm. These actions have resulted in higher survival rates for cardiac arrest victims. PulsePoint effectively engages communities in saving lives. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

John M Tallon, MD MSc

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Steven C Brooks, MD MHSc

Principal Investigator

Queen's University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The PulsePoint Study is for patients who experience a non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in public. They must be treated by EMS and have their condition confirmed as 'suspected' or 'confirmed' cardiac arrest. It excludes those with traumatic arrests, arrests at dangerous scenes, EMS-witnessed events, cases not treated by EMS (like DNRs), or incidents in nursing homes/healthcare facilities.

Inclusion Criteria

I had a cardiac arrest in a public place and was treated by EMS.

Exclusion Criteria

My cardiac arrest was traumatic, in a dangerous place, witnessed by EMS, or I wasn't treated due to a DNR.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Randomized controlled trial evaluating the PulsePoint system to increase bystander CPR or defibrillator use

2 years

Continuous monitoring during 9-1-1 calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for survival to hospital discharge and other outcomes

30 days

Data Analysis

Analysis of data to evaluate the effectiveness of the PulsePoint system

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• PulsePoint notification

Trial Overview This study tests if the PulsePoint system can increase bystander CPR or defibrillator use when someone has a cardiac arrest in public. Participants are randomly divided into two groups: one receives PulsePoint alerts plus standard dispatch; the other gets only standard dispatch.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Conventional Emergency Dispatch PLUS PulsePoint notification Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Eligible 911 calls randomized to the experimental arm of the study will undergo usual dispatch of emergency services personnel as per pre-existing local protocols and activation of the PulsePoint system. When triggered, the system will push location data to all PulsePoint mobile application users within 400 meters of the emergency. Devices receiving the alerts from the PulsePoint system will alarm with auditory, tactile and visual stimuli. The application will present a map showing the exact location of the emergency and the closest public access defibrillator.

Group II: Conventional Emergency Dispatch Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients randomized to the control arm will receive conventional emergency medical dispatching procedures as per pre-existing local protocols (e.g. dispatch of emergency vehicles, attempted dispatch-assisted CPR) without activation of the PulsePoint system. 911 calls randomized to the control arm will not be associated with any PulsePoint alerts.

PulsePoint notification is already approved in United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as PulsePoint Respond for:

• Non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in public locations

Approved in Canada as PulsePoint Respond for:

• Non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in public locations

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dr. Steven Brooks

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

340+

Dr. Steven Brooks

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

340+

University of Toronto

Collaborator

Trials

739

Recruited

1,125,000+

Columbus Division of Fire

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

340+

PulsePoint Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

340+

University of British Columbia

Collaborator

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

BC Emergency Health Services

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

12,600+

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

340+

University of Manitoba

Collaborator

Trials

628

Recruited

209,000+

Ohio State University

Collaborator

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Citizen app provided notifications about traumatic cardiac arrest an average of 12.9 minutes earlier than traditional emergency medical services notifications, which could significantly improve response times and potentially patient outcomes.

The app successfully generated notifications for 84% of the patients studied, indicating its reliability as a secondary source of information for emergency responders in critical situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving out-of-hospital notification in traumatic cardiac arrests with novel usage of smartphone application. Kelly, GS., Clare, D.[2022]

In a study involving 9,000 registered volunteers over two years in Limburg, Netherlands, the novel text message system for notifying citizen rescuers was activated in about 49% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs), indicating a need for better activation in emergencies.

Survival rates for cardiac arrest victims improved significantly with higher volunteer density, rising from 20.6% to 34.8% when the density of citizen rescuers exceeded 0.75%, highlighting the importance of increasing the number of trained volunteers for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of a novel citizen rescue system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the Dutch province of Limburg: relation to incidence and survival. Pijls, RWM., Nelemans, PJ., Rahel, BM., et al.[2020]

The augmented reality (AR) CPR feedback system significantly improved chest compression performance in community emergency departments, with 87-90% of compressions meeting the goal range compared to only 18-21% without feedback.

Qualitative feedback from participants indicated that AR-CPR was easy to use, helped reduce anxiety, and increased confidence in delivering effective CPR, suggesting it could be a valuable tool in non-pediatric-specialized settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pediatric Chest Compression Improvement Via Augmented Reality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Feedback in Community General Emergency Departments: A Mixed-Methods Simulation-Based Pilot Study. Kleinman, K., Hairston, T., Smith, B., et al.[2023]

The Code Blue Leader smartphone app significantly improved the performance scores of ACLS-trained medical professionals during cardiac arrest simulations, with an average score of 95.3% compared to 81.4% in the control group.

The app users performed 100% of critical actions required during the simulations, while the control group only achieved 85%, indicating that the app enhances adherence to essential protocols in emergency situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of a smartphone-based cognitive aid on clinical performance during cardiac arrest simulations: A randomized controlled trial. Brophy, SL., McCue, MR., Reel, RM., et al.[2023]

A survey of 2415 participants from Canada and the United States showed that a vast majority (over 96%) support the implementation of the PulsePoint Respond app for crowdsourcing basic life support during cardiac arrests.

Most respondents expressed willingness to download the app and respond to alerts, with 84% of Canadians and 56% of Americans indicating they would do so, highlighting a strong public interest in enhancing emergency response through technology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

North American Public Opinion Survey on the Acceptability of Crowdsourcing Basic Life Support for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With the PulsePoint Mobile Phone App. Dainty, KN., Vaid, H., Brooks, SC.[2019]

A pilot study involving 9 students tested a smartphone alerting system that uses GPS to automatically measure the departure times of volunteers responding to cardiac arrest alerts, showing that this method is feasible and precise.

The study found that the median difference between automatically recorded departure times and manually recorded times was minimal, indicating that GPS can effectively track responder times, especially with a 20-meter geofence, which had the least variability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Automatic measurement of departing times in smartphone alerting systems: A pilot study. Ganter, J., Ruf, A., Oppermann, J., et al.[2023]

Only 23% of users who received a PulsePoint Respond notification actually responded, highlighting a significant challenge in engaging bystanders for cardiac arrest situations.

Despite the low response rate, 79% of those who arrived at the scene of a cardiac arrest performed bystander CPR, indicating that when individuals do respond, they are likely to take action to help.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The PulsePoint Respond mobile device application to crowdsource basic life support for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Challenges for optimal implementation. Brooks, SC., Simmons, G., Worthington, H., et al.[2016]

The revised dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) protocol significantly improved the recognition of cardiac arrests (from 54.5% to 68.8%) and the checking of normal breathing (from 51.5% to 76.6%) among dispatchers, indicating better training and response during emergencies.

After implementing the DA-CPR protocol, there was a notable increase in 24-hour survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients (from 7.6% to 20.3%), suggesting that the protocol may enhance patient outcomes in critical situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Validation of a Dispatch Protocol with Continuous Quality Control for Cardiac Arrest: A Before-and-After Study at a City Fire Department-Based Dispatch Center. Huang, CH., Fan, HJ., Chien, CY., et al.[2018]

The study analyzed 593 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and found that using a mobile app to alert first responders significantly reduced the time to arrival on scene (3.5 minutes) compared to SMS alerts (5.6 minutes).

The mobile app also increased the likelihood of lay responders arriving first at the scene (70% vs. 15%), which is crucial since quicker CPR initiation is linked to higher survival rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lay persons alerted by mobile application system initiate earlier cardio-pulmonary resuscitation: A comparison with SMS-based system notification. Caputo, ML., Muschietti, S., Burkart, R., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pulsepoint.org pulsepoint.org/pulsepoint-respond

PulsePoint | Inform and engage your community Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time, but PulsePoint Respond empowers CPR-trained citizens to help improve patient outcomes and save lives by ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4069540/

Implementation of the PulsePoint smartphone application for ... Conclusion. We observed a very high proportion of bystander CPR (80%) for victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when PulsePoint users arrived before EMS. ...

3. apps.usfa.fema.gov apps.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo248247.pdf

DOES THE PULSEPOINT APP AFFECT CARDIAC ARREST The study found that these initiatives not only resulted in people receiving more bystander CPR and defibrillation but showed higher survival rates with ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04806958

Study Details | NCT04806958 | The PulsePoint Study This randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether use of the PulsePoint system increases bystander CPR or defibrillator use compared to standard ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300957221004585

PulsePoint dispatch associated patient characteristics and ... PulsePoint dispatches were associated with prognostically favorable OHCA characteristics and increased bystander CPR performance.

6. pulsepoint.org pulsepoint.org/

PulsePoint | Building informed communities PulsePoint is a 911-connected app that can immediately inform you of emergencies occurring in your community and can request your help when CPR is needed…

7. pulsepoint.org pulsepoint.org/fyi/PulsePoint_Factsheets.pdf

PULSEPOINT RESPOND PULSEPOINT RESPOND. PulsePoint Respond is a 911-connected mobile app that alerts CPR/AED-trained individuals to someone nearby having a sudden cardiac arrest.

8. apps.apple.com apps.apple.com/us/app/pulsepoint-respond/id500772134

PulsePoint Respond on the App Store - Apple PulsePoint Respond is a 911-connected mobile app that can immediately inform you of emergencies occurring in your community and can request your help.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300957215008060

The PulsePoint Respond mobile device application to ... PulsePoint Respond has the potential to improve the community response to cardiac arrest, with 80% of responders attempting basic life support when they found a ...