Exploring attitudes of health care providers toward the presence of family members during adult pulmonary resuscitation efforts in the emergency department

Literature indicates that family members suffer no adverse psychological effects from witnessing CPR efforts on a loved one (Robinson, Mackenzie-Ross, Hewson, Egleston, and Prevost, 1998). Therefore, this study was aimed at health care providers and their attitudes towards family witnessed resuscitation on an adult family member. A seven-item questionnaire was distributed to physicians and registered nurses to determine their attitudes towards family presence during resuscitation procedures.

The sample size was 38 HCPs, 12 being physicians and 26 registered nurses. Of the 38 respondents, 89.5% stated that they themselves would like to be given the opportunity to be present if the situation should arise with their loved one. In addition, of the HCPs who have been involved in situations where family members have been present during CPR efforts, 93.6% stated that this experience yielded benefits. This finding was higher than previously published research. The major benefit identified was that families were viewed as supportive to the loved one in the resuscitation room The major disadvantage was that families might interfere with resuscitation efforts. This study also found that 79.0% of the respondents felt that families have the right to be present during resuscitation. However, this study found that less than half of the HCPs felt that families may interfere with treatment, procedures may offend families, and families may be disruptive to staff members working.