Randomised clinical simulation designed to evaluate the effect of telemedicine using Google Glass on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

AIM: Through a clinical simulation, this study aims to assess the effect of telematics support through Google Glass (GG) from an expert physician on performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by a group of nurses, as compared with a control group of nurses receiving no assistance.

METHODS: This was a randomised study carried out at the Catholic University of Murcia (November 2014-February 2015). Nursing professionals from the Emergency Medical Services in Murcia (Spain) were asked to perform in a clinical simulation of cardiac arrest. Half of the nurses were randomly chosen to receive coaching from physicians through GG, while the other half did not receive any coaching (controls). The main outcome of the study expected was successful defibrillation, which restores sinus rhythm.

RESULTS: Thirty-six nurses were enrolled in each study group. Statistically significant differences were found in the percentages of successful defibrillation (100% GG vs 78% control; p=0005) and CPR completion times: 213.91 s for GG and 250.31 s for control (average difference=36.39 s (95% CI 12.03 to 60.75), p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: Telematics support by an expert through GG improves success rates and completion times while performing CPR in simulated clinical situations for nurses in simulated scenarios.