The Impact of a Mobile Phone Application for Retention of Bleeding Control Skills

The American College of Surgeons Bleeding Control Course (B-Con) empowers bystanders with hemorrhage control skills to manage prehospital emergencies, but demonstrates poor skill retention. The point of care use of a free Stop the Bleed mobile phone application on the retention of hemorrhage control...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of surgical research 2021-11, Vol.267, p.669-677
Main Authors: Dadario, Nicholas B., Felipes, Rachel C. Santana, Cooney, Joseph V., Stephenson, Karen M., Shleiwet, Nicholas H., Liang, Timothy, Jafri, Farrukh N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bleeding control
Cell Phone
Gunshot
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage - etiology
Hemorrhage - prevention & control
Humans
Mobile Applications
Public health
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tourniquet
Tourniquets
Trauma
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Summary:The American College of Surgeons Bleeding Control Course (B-Con) empowers bystanders with hemorrhage control skills to manage prehospital emergencies, but demonstrates poor skill retention. The point of care use of a free Stop the Bleed mobile phone application on the retention of hemorrhage control skills from the B-Con Course was explored. Convenience sample of college students previously trained in B-Con were randomized into mobile application (MA) or control groups. The use of a mobile application during a simulated emergency scenario with tourniquet and situational awareness skills was assessed. Wound packing skill retention without intervention was also assessed. Survey data allowed for comparison of participant perceptions of skills with actual performances. MA (n = 30) was superior to control (n = 32) in correct tourniquet application (62.5% versus 30.0%; P = 0.01) with longer placement times (163 sec versus 95 sec; P < 0.001) and in calling 911 (31.3% versus 3.3%, P = 0.004). Participants maintain inflated perceptions of their skills, but generally feel underprepared for a future bleeding emergency. Mobile apps improve tourniquet and situational awareness skills and may serve as potential aids to improve bystander hemorrhage control skills in real-time, but require further prospective investigation into its use.
ISSN:0022-4804
1095-8673
DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2021.06.021