METHODOLOGY FOR DATA-COLLECTION TO STUDY PREHOSPITAL CARDIAC-ARREST IN NEW-YORK-CITY - THE PHASE METHODOLOGY

Study objective: To describe an effective methodology for the investigation of prehospital cardiac arrest in large cities. Design: Observational cohort study. Setting: New York City emergency medical services system. Participants: All cardiac arrests dispatched by the 911 system between October 1, 1990, and March 31, 1991. Interventions: Trained paramedics performed immediate postarrest interviews with prehospital and hospital care providers using a standardized data collection instrument. Results: Of 3,239 consecutive, confirmed cardiac arrests in which resuscitation was attempted, 2,329 (72%) were of cardiac etiology. Information was sought for 15 of the 17 core events and times recommended by the Utstein Consensus Conference. Data were obtained in more than 98% of cases for all except one of these core events and times. One core time yielded data in 96% of cases. All patients were followed until death or discharge home. None were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Concurrent, interactive acquisition of prehospital cardiac arrest data in a large urban setting captured over 98% of the core data recommended for completion of the Utstein template. This methodology may be a suitable means of investigating prehospital cardiac arrest in large cities.