TV depictions of CPR may put people off giving help

A study of 54 US TV episodes found dramas more often show pulse checks and rescue breaths than compression-only CPR, and researchers say such portrayals differ from the settings and ages seen in real-world cardiac arrests.

Television dramas often show characters performing pulse checks and mouth-to-mouth breaths during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, and researchers say those scenes may influence whether viewers feel able to act. The American Heart Association and the NHS advise that untrained bystanders can perform chest-compression-only CPR for adults. The new study reviewed fictional US TV episodes released since 2008 to compare on-screen practice with current guidance and real-world patterns. Key findings: - The research team searched IMDb for US TV episodes depicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and analysed 54 episodes featuring laypeople giving CPR. - Only 16 of the 54 episodes showed compression-only CPR; 26 showed breaths given with compressions, and 23 showed pulse checks by the lay rescuer. - The shows underrepresented typical settings and patients: about 20% of episodes showed cardiac arrests at home despite roughly 80% occurring at home in real life, and over half of on-screen patients were under 40 while the average real-world age is about 62. - The sample skewed toward white male patients on screen, and the authors note this differs from the broader population affected by cardiac arrest. - The British Heart Foundation says there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year in the UK, and the American Heart Association estimates bystander CPR rates globally at about 35–45%. Summary: Researchers conclude that common TV portrayals of CPR often include steps now de-emphasised for untrained bystanders, and they suggest those depictions could create confusion about how people respond in real events. Undetermined at this time.