A Recent Study Reveals Gender Disparities in CPR Administration and Survival Rates
Recent research highlights a concerning trend: women are less likely to receive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and have lower survival rates from cardiac arrests compared to men. An Australian study delved into 4,491 cardiac arrest cases between 2017 and 2019, uncovering that bystanders administered CPR to men 74% of the time, whereas women received it only 65% of the time.
CPR, an emergency procedure vital for saving lives when the heart stops beating, is governed by guidelines in Australia by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). The study suggests that one underlying reason for this gender disparity may be the design of CPR training manikins. Approximately 95% of these training dummies globally are male-presenting and lack breasts, which means most individuals do not practice chest compressions on models that resemble women.
This lack of representation in training tools may contribute to hesitation or uncertainty when bystanders encounter a female individual in need of CPR. A survey conducted in October by St John Ambulance in the UK found that women experiencing cardiac arrest in public settings were less likely to receive chest compressions from bystanders. The survey indicated that concerns about inadvertently touching a woman’s breasts could be a factor in this reluctance.
Dr. Rebecca Szabo, head of the Gandel Simulation Service at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, emphasised the importance of inclusive training materials. She suggested that introducing manikins with features like bras and breasts could help bystanders feel more comfortable and confident when performing CPR on women during real-life emergencies.
The findings point to a broader issue of “medical misogyny,” referring to systemic biases and neglect towards women within the medical field and training protocols. Addressing these biases by making CPR training more inclusive could play a crucial role in improving survival outcomes for women experiencing cardiac arrests.
Key Takeaways:
- Women are less likely to receive CPR and have lower survival rates from cardiac arrests compared to men.
- The design of CPR manikins, predominantly male-presenting and without breasts, may contribute to this disparity.
- Inclusive training tools could help reduce hesitation among bystanders when performing CPR on women.
- Addressing systemic biases in medical training is essential for improving emergency response and outcomes for women.
Peter Mckie from PARASOL EMT has noted that some manikins not included in the study do have the ability to add breasts, such as Atlas from 3B Scientific.
