Scripted television programs in the United States frequently misrepresent key aspects of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to research published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes. The analysis of 169 TV episodes aired since 2008 found depictions often diverge from reality, potentially influencing public perception and behavior during actual emergencies.
Researchers identified significant discrepancies between television portrayals and real-world data. While more than 80% of actual out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home, only about 20% were depicted as happening in domestic settings on screen. Television programs showed cardiac arrests more frequently in remote areas (37%) or public spaces (26%). Additionally, more than half of fictional CPR recipients were younger than 40, whereas the average real-life recipient is 62 years old.
The study highlights concerning parallels between television portrayals and documented healthcare disparities. Depictions commonly featured white adults and males as both recipients and providers of Hands-Only CPR. This mirrors real-world patterns where women and Black and Latino adults are less likely than white people to receive CPR from a lay rescuer. Only about 40% of people experiencing cardiac arrest outside a hospital receive immediate help, with even lower rates among these demographic groups.
"We know that TV depictions of health topics can influence viewers," said senior author Beth L. Hoffman, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. "Considering the sheer number of people who watch TV, it's important to think of how to leverage this to improve the likelihood that people will perform CPR and save lives." The research suggests television may either reflect existing disparities or reinforce implicit biases through repeated exposure to skewed representations.
Technical accuracy was also lacking. Less than 30% of episodes correctly portrayed the American Heart Association-endorsed Hands-Only CPR protocol of calling 911 and beginning chest compressions. The Association's Hands-Only CPR technique, endorsed since 2008, uses chest compressions only and has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR in the critical first minutes after cardiac arrest in teens and adults.
Despite these inaccuracies, television does offer one positive distortion: 58% of fictional cardiac arrest victims received CPR, compared to approximately 40% in reality. This suggests entertainment media could potentially be harnessed to model ideal response rates. "Wouldn't it be great if seeing CPR being used to save a life on TV motivated more people to act quickly?" said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., volunteer president of the American Heart Association.
The implications extend beyond entertainment criticism. With over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the U.S., and immediate CPR capable of doubling or tripling survival rates, accurate public education is crucial. The American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030 by creating a nation of prepared lay rescuers. Researchers hope their findings encourage more accurate television depictions that could help close CPR receipt gaps and ultimately save more lives, particularly since most cardiac arrests occur at home where loved ones are most likely to witness them.
