| dc.description.abstract | This article presents a systematic review and analysis of grey
literature to identify and address gaps in knowledge regarding the
role and influence of bystander activation on pre-hospital emer-
gency care (PEC) response time. We conducted a systematic search
for full-text articles published since 2000 in Web of Science,
PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. We fol-
lowed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, using “pre-hospital emer-
gency care response time” and “bystanders” as search keywords.
The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Our analy-
sis included forty-six relevant studies meeting the inclusion crite-
ria. However, we observed that many studies were poorly reported,
posing risks of selection and detection biases. Additionally, we
identified methodological and study design weaknesses in five
studies. Given the critical role of PEC services in saving lives and
preventing medical complications, the timely provision of these
services is paramount. Bystanders play a central role in activating
emergency medical services (EMS) and providing cardiopul-
monary resuscitation. Prompt calls to EMS by bystanders resulted
in reduced PEC response times, improved survival chances, and
better neurological outcomes, particularly among out-of-hospital
cardiac arrest patients. There is substantial evidence that prompt
bystander activation of EMS significantly reduces PEC response
times, thereby saving lives and strengthening existing PEC sys-
tems. However, further research is necessary to accurately assess
the impact of different interventions aimed at enhancing bystander
activation of EMS and reducing PEC response times. | en_US |
