Evidence for GoodSAM

We support our academic partners to independently study the benefits GoodSAM can bring. It is vital to remember that they are studying GoodSAM solutions, not WhatsApp, Zoom or Skype. Our video systems are designed for emergency use and our cardiac system is a highly governed system and so the results do not translate to general video systems or those trying to copy us. Indeed, where other systems have been used, they have often failed.

With that in mind we have divided the publications into video focused and cardiac focused:

- Instant-On-Scene Video Publications (by Ambulance and Police)
- GoodSAM Cardiac Alerting Publications

Instant-On-Scene Video Publications

Ambulance

Live video from bystanders' smartphones to medical dispatchers in real emergencies Linderoth et al, BMC Emergency Medicine Nov 2021

This study analysed 838 emergency GoodSAM Instant-On-Scene Videos. Key findings:

- 838 emergency videos
- GoodSAM video changed assessment of the patient's condition in 51.1% of calls - 12.9% more critical, 38.2% less critical
- GoodSAM video altered emergency response in 27.5% of cases
- Quality of care (e.g. CPR or airway) improved in 28.4% of calls with GoodSAM Video
- 97.3% of callers felt live video should be implemented.

Click here to read the full paper

Live video streaming from bystander's smartphone in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Linderoth et al Resuscitation 168 P35-43 Nov 2021

CPR was provided with live video in 51 OHCA. Video guided CPR improved CPR quality:

- Hand position (incorrect in 36 cases, improving in 23 (60.5% OR 5.8)
- Compression rate (incorrect in 35 cases, improved in 26 (75% OR 7.7)
- Compression depth (incorrect in 54 cases, improved in 32 (58% OR 7.1)

Click here for the full paper

Live Video Footage from scene to aid helicopter emergency medical service dispatch: a feasibility study Avest et al Scandanavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2019 27:55

This seminal paper demonstrated the ease of use, reliability, patient flow and governance processes that make GoodSAM Instant-On-Scene video ideal for HEMS service deployment.

Click here for the full paper

Study of prehospital video telehealth for callers with mental health-related complaints
Nehme et al 2022


This study by the team at Ambulance Victoria completed 738 video consultations for non-urgent mental health concerns. They demonstrated GoodSAM video resulted in fewer emergency ambulance dispatches compared with voice-only triage with increased referral to alternative/more appropriate services.

Click here for the full paper

Video Consultation Pilot within an NHS 111 Service Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) NHS Digital Evaluation Report

This report evaluated GoodSAM video in North West Ambulance Service 111 Centre

Key Findings:

- In 93% of calls, an outcome was reached more quickly with GoodSAM video.
- 17% of calls were upgraded.
- 24% of calls were downgraded.
- 96% of dispatchers said it increased their confidence in clinical decision making.
- In 62% of cases it prevented the onward need for a face to face consultation.
- And >97% found the GoodSAM system easy to use.
- Call times were reduced from 15 minutes to 6 minutes.


Click here for the full paper

Video triage of children with respiratory symptoms at a medical helpline is safe and feasible - a prospective quality improvement study.

PLOS ONE April 2023

Key Findings:

This study compared video and telephone triage of 617 paediatric patients with respiratory tract infections with fewer video-triaged patients needing assessment at hospital (39% vs 46% p=0.07). The technique was highly feasible and acceptable with no adverse events registered.


Click here for the full paper

Instant-On-Scene Video Publications

Police

Rapid Video Responses (RVR) vs Face to Face Responses by Police Officers to Domestic Abuse Victims: a Randomised Controlled Trial

Rothwell et al Cambridge Journal of Evidence-Based Policing May 2022

This study of 560 domestic violence victims found that, compared to standard follow up, GoodSAM video resulted in:

- 656 times faster response to victims (3mins vs 1969 mins)
- Higher victim satisfaction (89% vs 78%)
- A 50% higher arrest rate (24% vs 16%)
- Improves Trust and confidence in the police


Click here for the full paper

GoodSAM Cardiac Alerting Publications:

Providing evidence of benefit in terms of lives saved requires a comprehensive cardiac registry and ambulance services to follow up survivors. When done, odds ratio of survival with a GoodSAM response has been found to be 3 times greater (see below). Ambulance Victoria report 54 survivors from GoodSAM intervention and there are many survivor stories.

The Effect of the GoodSAM volunteer first-responder app on survival to hospital discharge following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Smith et al European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care (2021), 00, 1-12

Key findings:

- Being attended by a GoodSAM Responder increased Odds ratio for survival to hospital discharge by
- 3.15 in East Midlands and
- 3.19 in London
* Reported acceptance rates were low (1-5%) however, this is 2016 data and responder density and acceptance is considerably higher now (> 15%).

Read the full paper here

A binational survey of smartphone activated volunteer responders for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Availability, interventions, and post-traumatic stress Haskins et al, Resuscitation 169 65-75 2001

Brian Haskins

This web based survey of 1985 responders found that 38% accepted alerts, 27% arrived on scene and 14% provided patient care. One responder screened positive for PTSD attributing events at and outside of work with also the smartphone alert contributing.

Read the full paper here

GoodSAM Volunteering:

Micro-volunteering at scale can help health systems respond to emergencies, such as the Covid-19 pandemic
Churchill 2020


This case study by Neil Churchill OBE describes the deployment of GoodSAM in partnership with NHSE and the Royal Voluntary Service during Covid to recruit and manage 800,000 NHS Volunteers. This was the first scaled roll out of micro-volunteering.

Read the full paper here

Micro-volunteering: Report of an Evaluation
The Health Innovation Network


This is a comprehensive report of micro-volunteering during the Covid Pandemic. It should be noted that GoodSAM was working in partnership with NHSE and RVS and hence the actual specification / delivery of some aspects were at their direction.

Read the full paper here

Happy to Help: The Welfare Effects of a Nationwide Micro-Volunteering Programme
The Institute of Labor Economics


This is a comprehensive report of the NHS Volunteer programme powered by GoodSAM during the pandemic.

Read the full paper here