On Sept. 20, 2024, study results released by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) researchers suggested placing defibrillation pads in the front, back could improve dire survival rate — less than one in 10 people nationwide.

Researchers used data from the Portland Cardiac Arrest Epidemiologic Registry, which comprehensively recorded the placement position of defibrillation pads from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023. For purposes of the study, researchers reviewed 255 cases treated by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, where the two pads were placed either at the front and side or front and back.

They found placing the pads in front and back had 2.64-fold greater odds of returning spontaneous blood circulation, compared with placing the pads on the person’s front and side. The researchers cautioned that their study was only observational and not a definitive clinical trial.