PP18 The BICeP study: results of a before and after study of a text-message intervention designed to increase confidence and willingness to perform CPR

BackgroundPrompt bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the single most important factor determining survival from OHCA, increasing the likelihood of survival up to 4-fold. Much is invested in training lay-people to be competent but many don’t attempt CPR when they encounter OHCA reducing potential for emergency services interventions to be successful.AimTo develop a behaviour-change text-messaging intervention to increase proportion of lay-people who will initiate CPR in the event of OHCA.MethodsWorking with lay-people and expert advisory group we developed a series of 35 text messages comprising 14 behaviour change techniques designed to increase intentions to perform CPR. We recruited 20 lay people to a before and after pilot study to evaluate the acceptability of the messages and explore participant responses to them. Intention to perform CPR was assessed in relation to 4 varied scenarios before and after the intervention.ResultsTwenty lay-people (6F, 14M; aged 20-84) participated in the study. Seventeen received the complete intervention over 4-6 weeks, two received 20+messages and one a single message before opting out. Fifteen participants provided follow-up data. Intentions to initiate CPR in CPR scenarios were greater after the intervention than before with all but one participant maintaining or increasing their original (high) intentions. Increases in psychological predictors of intention: attitudes (pre:57.5 post:63.0), perceived behavioural control(pre:50.0 post:58.0), self-efficacy (pre:74.5 post:81.0) and self-assessed competence (pre:19.5 post:20.5) were observed following the intervention. Qualitative data suggested the intervention was positively received and viewed as helpful in improving confidence by reinforcing and building on messages from training though additional options for delivery format and pace should be considered.ConclusionsA behaviour-change text-message intervention delivered after CPR training is acceptable, easily scalable and may help improve rates of lay CPR initiation. Full scale evaluation of effectiveness is planned.