IPhone Apps for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Content Analysis

As technology improves, public health professionals must address opportunities at the expanding interface between new technology and public health. Smartphones comprise a new technology that promises to become a popular tool for public health. Studies have shown that improving delivery of CPR by laypersons can improve victim outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with accidents and injuries. Smartphones and their accompanying applications have the potential to provide low-cost interventions improving CPR delivery. This study examined the content of current iPhone CPR apps to determine their adherence to 2010 American Heart Association CPR Guidelines. Apps were collected after entering “CPR” and related phrases into the iTunes10.2.1 search engine. After excluding based on relevance, 50 apps were reviewed to determine presence and absence of individual guidelines. Apps were given a rating out of 18 indicating their adherence to the AHA guidelines. Data were statistically analyzed to determine app adherence to AHA guidelines related to cost and consumer ratings. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant variation in app adherence along the price continuum. An additional ANOVA comparing consumer ratings and app adherence reported statistically significant differences in app content along the consumer rating scale. Finally, five apps that were updated since data was originally collected were re- reviewed and analyzed for changes in adherence. Tests showed no statistically significant improvement in app adherence score after updating. These findings have important implications for public health professionals. In this presentation, potential areas for further study and improvement will be discussed.