Public Attitudes Towards Automated External Defibrillators: Results of a Survey in the Australian General Population

Swift defibrillation by lay responders using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) increases survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study evaluated newly-designed yellow–red versus commonly-used green–white signage for AEDs and cabinets, and gauged public attitudes to using AEDs during OHCA. New yellow-red signage was designed to enable easy identification of AEDs and cabinets. A prospective, cross-sectional study of the Australian public was conducted using an electronic, anonymised questionnaire between November 2021 and June 2022. The validated net-promoter score (NPS) investigated public engagement with the signage. Likert scales and binary comparisons evaluated preference, comfort, and likelihood of using AEDs for OHCA. Across 2,538 members of the Australian public who participated in the survey, the yellow–red sign (73.0% vs 27.0%) and cabinet (87.6% vs 12.4%) was preferred versus green–white. Older people had the greatest preference for yellow–red signage, with similar rates of preference by gender and ethnicity. Within NPS results, the yellow–red sign and cabinet demonstrated significantly higher proportions of promoters, and lower proportions of detractors, versus green–white. Only 32% were uncomfortable in using AEDs and only 19% indicated low likelihood of using AEDs in OHCA. Majority of the Australian public surveyed preferred yellow–red over green–white signage for AED and cabinet and indicated comfort and likelihood of using AEDs in OHCA. Steps are necessary to standardise yellow–red signage of AED and cabinet and enable wide-spread availability of AEDs for public access defibrillation.