Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07825805

Hand Position, CPR Quality and Rescuer Comfort

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.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Cardiac Arrest (CA) Cardiovascular Diseases Heart Arrest Heart Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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

Exclusion criteria

  • 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

Treatment and study plan

Interlocked-finger chest compression technique

Behavioral

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 technique

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean chest compression depth (mm)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Mean chest compression depth recorded continuously by the manikin's integrated measurement system during CPR performance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Chest compression rate (per minute)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Mean chest compression rate (compressions per minute) recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system during CPR performance.

  2. Proportion of compressions with adequate depth (%)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Proportion of chest compressions meeting the predefined target depth, as recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.

  3. Proportion of compressions with complete chest recoil (%)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Proportion of chest compressions followed by complete chest recoil, as recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.

  4. Interruption duration (sec)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Duration of interruptions in chest compressions (hand-off time), if applicable, recorded by the manikin's integrated measurement system.

  5. Overall chest compression quality score (points, mean, SD)

    Time frame: During procedure.

    Overall chest compression quality score calculated by the manikin's integrated measurement system based on predefined CPR performance parameters.

  6. Self-reported hand pain

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    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.

  7. Finger discomfort

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' self-reported discomfort in the fingers following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.

  8. Wrist discomfort

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' self-reported wrist discomfort following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.

  9. Perceived physical fatigue

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' self-reported physical fatigue following CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.

  10. Perceived hand-position stability

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' perceived stability of their hand position during CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.

  11. Perceived hand slippage

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' perceived sensation of hand slippage during CPR performance, assessed using a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale.

  12. Preferred hand position

    Time frame: Immediately after the CPR procedure (within 15 minutes)

    Participants' preferred hand position for performing CPR in a real-life cardiac arrest situation.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Bálint Bánfai, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+3672501-500

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pecs

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Hand Position During Chest Compressions on Resuscitation Quality and Rescuer Comfort: A Randomized Crossover Simulation Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 21, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.