Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education for the public may improve bystander intention to perform CPR on cardiac arrest patients. Studies have shown that different CPR education intervention methods can improve learning performance, with key indicators including attitude toward to CPR, intention to perform CPR, and degree of CPR knowledge and skills. The present study compared the traditional face-to-face method to hybrid and virtual reality (VR) methods to observe difference in learning performance and length of performance retention. This study adopted randomized controlled trial to compare CPR learning performance between traditional face-to-face, hybrid, and VR methods. Participants from each intervention group completed a pretest and 2 posttests. The measurement tools included an attitude and intention questionnaire, knowledge examination, and skill examination with a RESUSCI ANNE QCPR ® manikin. The performance among all participants in pretest showed no significant difference between the intervention groups, indicating no difference in their background attitude, knowledge, and skill level. Significant differences were observed in the average degree of intention to perform CPR between the hybrid and traditional groups in 1st and 2nd posttest. Compared to the pretest results, the posttests revealed significantly higher attitude toward CPR, intention to perform CPR, knowledge examination results, accuracy of overall chest compression, accuracy of CPR procedure, accuracy of AED usage, accuracy of chest compression rate, and accuracy of chest compression depth. The average time to reattending CPR learning and practice session was 11–12 weeks reported by participants. The hybrid and VR methods to CPR education resulted in the same level of improvement in learning performance as traditional face-to-face teaching. The suggested frequency for renewing CPR knowledge and skills is 12 weeks which may be considered in new strategies aimed at promoting CPR education and exposure to the public.

A spike in COVID-19 cases in Taiwan’s communities caused a significant increase in workload and infection concerns among prehospital personnel working in Taiwan fire departments. The present study was aimed at investigating their health status during this period. The target population was prehospital personnel who are from Taiwan fire departments, and who responded to COVID-19 patients during the community outbreak period. A questionnaire was employed to assess their physical and mental health status. The results showed that prehospital personnel suffered from moderate to severe degrees of burnout. Workload, body burden, and perceived pressure increased significantly during this period. Participants received more support from friends, family, and colleagues than they did from authorities. The paramedics reported higher scores for personal burnout than the emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Compared to non-COVID-19 response units, special COVID-19 response units reported higher scores for workload, body burden, and supportive environment. The results suggested that personal and work-related burnout were associated with higher perceived pressure. This study is the first investigation of physical and mental health burdens among prehospital personnel in Taiwan fire departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical and mental health status of these personnel should be continuously monitored, and intervention provided as necessary.

Background: Survival following an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest depends on prompt defibrillation. Despite the efforts made to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in crowded areas, their usage rate remains suboptimal. This study evaluated the efficiency of installing AEDs at key landmarks in Taoyuan City to enhance accessibility and usage. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed nontraumatic public out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest cases in Taoyuan City from 2017 to 2021, using data from the Taoyuan Fire Department and a regional registry. AED data were collected for 1163 devices. A geographic information system mapped target locations within the city, and real‐world walking routes were examined to assess coverage. The primary outcome was actual coverage and the coverage efficiency ratio, calculated as the actual coverage divided by the number of facilities at a location. The coverage efficiency ratio compared the coverage efficiency of target locations with existing public access defibrillators (PADs). Top locations for superior coverage in both downtown and outside downtown areas were bus stops and convenience stores (7‐Eleven and FamilyMart), which outperformed existing PADs. Convenience stores had a higher coverage efficiency ratio than the public service sector. Bus stops showed high AED usage rates before ambulance arrival. Conclusions: The current PAD locations in Taoyuan City offer limited coverage, which highlights the need for strategically installed AEDs, particularly in convenience stores. Policymakers should consider using the cultural relevance and accessibility of convenience stores, particularly 7‐Eleven branches, to enhance AED usage rates.

Prehospital emergency care systems are expanding in scope and complexity, yet research agendas remain disjointed and often nationally focused. An internationally informed set of research priorities is needed to guide strategic investment and evidence generation across emergency medical services (EMS) and paramedicine contexts, while recognizing that local funding environments and needs will continue to shape national research decisions. The objective of this study was to identify and validate internationally informed research priorities for paramedicine and prehospital EMS using a multi-phase, stakeholder-informed consensus and analytic approach. An observational, three-phase mixed-methods study was conducted. Phase 1 involved an open-ended Delphi survey of international prehospital stakeholders to generate research priorities. Phase 2 asked participants to rate the importance of each priority using a 10-point scale; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to identify underlying factors. Phase 3 used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the factor structure. Participants included clinicians, educators, researchers, managers, students, and policy stakeholders from multiple countries to maximize breadth of stakeholder input. Across the three phases, responses were obtained from 1,299, 717, and 954 participants, respectively, with 703 complete cases included in the final CFA. The final model comprised nine interrelated factors encompassing 40 research priorities. Factors reflected key areas of contemporary prehospital practice, including operations, clinical governance, evidence-based practice, health and well-being, special care (community paramedicine), culture, education and training, trauma care, and clinical care. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit, supporting the robustness of the identified structure. This study presents an internationally informed framework of research priorities for prehospital emergency care. The findings provide a practical foundation for researchers, funders, EMS organizations, and policy stakeholders to align future research efforts, reduce duplication, and address high-impact gaps across diverse prehospital systems, while remaining responsive to local context.

In recent years, the global elderly population has been on the rise, and Taiwan is projected to enter the super-aged society by 2025. The health of the elderly has become a crucial global issue, particularly with diseases like sarcopenia affecting cognition and physical functions. In response to this trend, the government has actively promoted senior fitness clubs; however, the quantity of these clubs is insufficient for the elderly population, and some seniors find it challenging to participate. Traditional home-based exercise programs also tend to be monotonous or tedious. Therefore, this study introduces a supportive mechanism using serious games, incorporating image recognition technology to provide customized home-based physical training games for the elderly. The system features a senior-friendly gaming environment, is non-wearable, and easy to set up. It dynamically adjusts difficulty levels through real-time data, ensuring both safety and engagement in training. In summary, the system aims to offer the elderly a safe, enjoyable, and personalized platform for physical training assistance, addressing the ongoing challenges of maintaining health in aging populations.