Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a serious emergency. In many areas, trained volunteers are alerted by a smartphone app to help before emergency services arrive. While this can save lives, these situations can also be emotionally stressful for the volunteers. This study looks at how these experiences affect volunteer first responders and how they cope with them. It also examines whether a structured follow-up conversation after an event can help reduce stress.
People who respond to a cardiac arrest alert can take part in the study. Participants will answer short questionnaires about their well-being about four weeks and ten weeks after the event. Some participants will also be offered a guided conversation to talk about their experience, while others will not.
The researchers will compare both groups to see if the conversation helps reduce stress over time. The study will also explore which factors may increase or reduce emotional burden.
Participants can stop answering the questionnaires at any time. If signs of increased stress are identified, support options are available. With consent, the study team may contact participants to offer further information and help connect them with support services.
The results of this study may help improve support for volunteer first responders in the future.
Volunteer first responders alerted through the "Corhelper" smartphone application
Sufficient German language skills to understand the study information and to participate in the debriefing conversation and questionnaires
Written informed consent for study participation
Actual arrival at the scene with direct exposure to the resuscitation situation (e.g., visual contact with the patient or active participation in resuscitation measures)
Age below 18 years
Anticipated severe post-traumatic stress symptoms during the course of the study, in order to avoid possible retraumatization
Already enrolled in the study following a different Corhelper alert event
Parallel
Structured Debriefing
BehavioralThe intervention consists of a structured debriefing conversation conducted by a team including physician members of the study team and trained psychosocial support (PSU) personnel. The conversation follows a semi-structured format and includes a guided reconstruction of the event, clarification of medical and situational aspects, and support in the individual processing of the experience. The aim is to facilitate understanding, reduce uncertainty, and support coping with the event.
Post-traumatic stress symptom severity measured by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) total score
Post-traumatic stress symptoms are assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Total scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Change in post-traumatic stress symptom severity measured by PCL-5 total score
Post-traumatic stress symptoms are assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Total scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. Change is calculated as the difference between the 10-week and 4-week scores.
Difference in post-traumatic stress symptom severity between debriefing and control groups
PCL-5 total scores and changes in PCL-5 total scores are compared between participants assigned to the structured debriefing group and participants assigned to the control group.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University Hospital, Aachen
Lead sponsor
Alexianer Center for Mental Health Care, Aachen
Collaborator
Aachen Institute for Rescue Management and Public Safety (ARS), RWTH Aachen University
Collaborator
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
