Cardiac Arrest (CA)NCT07825805
Hand Position, CPR Quality and Rescuer Comfort
A study testing Interlocked-finger chest compression technique and Overlapped hands chest compression technique in people with Cardiac Arrest (CA), run by University of Pecs at 1 site in Hungary.
Trial summary
This randomized crossover simulation study will compare two hand positions used during chest compressions: interlocked fingers and non-interlocked hands placed one on top of the other. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cardiac Arrest (CA)
- What is being tested?
- Interlocked-finger chest compression technique and Overlapped hands chest compression technique
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHungary
- Study dates
- 15 Oct 2026to 15 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Healthcare professionals or laypersons
- Physically able to perform chest compressions
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Acute injury of the upper extremities
- Chronic musculoskeletal disease or symptoms that may interfere with the ability to perform chest compressions with adequate quality
- technical issue during data collection
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hungary1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Pécs
Pécs, 7621
Bálint Bánfai, PhD, +3672501-500, balint.banfai@etk.pte.hu
About this study
Official title: Effect of Hand Position During Chest Compressions on Resuscitation Quality and Rescuer Comfort: A Randomized Crossover Simulation Study
This randomized crossover simulation study will compare two hand positions used during chest compressions: interlocked fingers and non-interlocked hands placed one on top of the other. The study will evaluate whether the non-interlocked hand position is non-inferior to the interlocked-finger technique with regard to chest compression depth, and will compare the two techniques in terms of CPR quality, rescuer comfort, fatigue, pain or discomfort, and perceived hand-position stability.
Read the detailed description
High-quality chest compressions are a key component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Current international resuscitation guidelines recommend placing one hand on top of the other during chest compressions, but recommendations regarding whether the fingers should be interlocked or simply placed on top of each other are based on limited scientific evidence.
This prospective, randomized, controlled crossover simulation study will compare two hand positions during continuous chest compressions on an adult CPR manikin. Each participant will perform two 2-minute chest compression periods, using both techniques in a computer-randomized order: (1) interlocked fingers, representing the commonly taught technique, and (2) non-interlocked hands placed one on top of the other. A 10-minute seated rest period will separate the two measurement periods.
The primary outcome will be mean chest compression depth. Secondary outcomes will include compression rate, proportion of compressions with adequate depth and full chest recoil, temporal changes in compression depth, and subjective assessments of pain, discomfort, physical fatigue, hand-position stability, and confidence in performing chest compressions. Participants will also indicate which technique they would prefer in a real resuscitation situation.
The study will be conducted in a simulation environment at the Human Patient Simulation Center of the University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants will not receive real-time feedback from the manikin during the measurements.
- Conditions
- Cardiac Arrest (CA)
- Being tested
- Interlocked-finger chest compression technique, Overlapped hands chest compression technique
- Keywords
- cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, chest compression, hand position
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Arrest
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Interlocked-finger chest compression techniqueBehavioural
Participants will perform chest compressions using the interlocked-finger hand position. One hand will be placed on the lower half of the sternum and the other hand on top, with the fingers interlocked. The intervention will consist of 2 minutes of continuous chest compressions performed at a target rate of 100-120 compressions per minute and a target depth of 5-6 cm, with complete chest recoil after each compression. No real-time feedback will be provided.
Overlapped hands chest compression techniqueBehavioural
Participants will perform chest compressions using the non-interlocked hand position. One hand will be placed on the lower half of the sternum and the other hand on top without interlocking the fingers. The intervention will consist of 2 minutes of continuous chest compressions performed under the same conditions as the interlocked-finger technique, with a target rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, a target depth of 5-6 cm, and complete chest recoil after each compression. No real-time feedback will be provided.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Interlocked fingers | Experimental | Participants will perform continuous chest compressions using the interlocked-finger hand position. One hand will be placed on the lower half of the sternum, with the other hand placed on top and the fingers interlocked. Chest compressions will be performed for 2 minutes according to current international CPR recommendations, targeting a compression depth of 5-6 cm, a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, and complete chest recoil after each compression. No real-time feedback from the manikin will be provided during the measurement. Receives: Behavioral: Interlocked-finger chest compression technique |
| Overlapped hands | Active comparator | Participants will perform continuous chest compressions using the non-interlocked hand position. One hand will be placed on the lower half of the sternum, with the other hand placed directly on top without interlocking the fingers. Finger contact between the two hands will be permitted, but active interlocking will not be performed. Chest compressions will be performed for 2 minutes under the same conditions as the interlocked-finger condition, targeting a compression depth of 5-6 cm, a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, and complete chest recoil after each compression. No real-time feedback from the manikin will be provided during the measurement. Receives: Behavioral: Overlapped hands chest compression technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean chest compression depth (mm)
Mean chest compression depth recorded continuously by the manikin's integrated measurement system during CPR performance.
Measured: During procedure.
Secondary outcomes (12)
Chest compression rate (per minute)
Mean chest compression rate (compressions per minute) recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system during CPR performance.
Measured: During procedure.
Proportion of compressions with adequate depth (%)
Proportion of chest compressions meeting the predefined target depth, as recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.
Measured: During procedure.
Proportion of compressions with complete chest recoil (%)
Proportion of chest compressions followed by complete chest recoil, as recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.
Measured: During procedure.
Interruption duration (sec)
Duration of interruptions in chest compressions (hand-off time), if applicable, recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.
Measured: During procedure.
Overall chest compression quality score (points, mean, SD)
Overall chest compression quality score calculated by the manikin's integrated measurement system based on predefined CPR performance parameters.
Measured: During procedure.
Self-reported hand pain
Participants' self-reported overall hand pain following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Finger discomfort
Participants' self-reported discomfort in the fingers following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Wrist discomfort
Participants' self-reported wrist discomfort following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Perceived physical fatigue
Participants' self-reported physical fatigue following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Perceived hand-position stability
Participants' perceived stability of their hand position during CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Perceived hand slippage
Participants' perceived sensation of hand slippage during CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Preferred hand position
Participants' preferred hand position for performing CPR in a real-life cardiac arrest situation.
Measured: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Sep 2026
- Study start15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cardiac Arrest (CA)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to one of two treatment sequences. In Sequence A, participants will perform chest compressions using the interlocked-finger hand position followed by the non-interlocked hand position. In Sequence B, the order will be reversed. Each intervention period will last 2 minutes and will be separated by a 10-minute seated rest period.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pecs
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Bálint Bánfai, University of Pecs
- Investigators
- Bálint Bánfai, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07825805
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CPR hand position
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in publications arising from this study may be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. The shared data may include participant-level demographic characteristics and de-identified CPR performance and subjective outcome data collected during the study.