Family Presence During Resuscitation After Trauma.

Family presence was not randomly assigned; it happened only when the trauma team agreed and the family was available, so differences between groups may reflect those circumstances rather than presence alone. The family presence option was delivered with a trained family facilitator and a hospital policy, so the contribution of presence alone cannot be separated from that support structure. The study was done at one Level 1 trauma centre where family presence had already been standard practice for over five years, so results may not apply to sites without that policy or trained facilitators. Outcomes were measured only within 72 hours after admission, so they do not show whether anxiety, stress, well-being or satisfaction change later. All family outcomes were self-reported, and recall during acute trauma stress may bias them. Some families were excluded, including families of patients with cardiac, burns and suicidal injuries, possible organ donation, prisoners, domestic violence, and family members with combativeness, agitation, extreme emotional instability, altered mental status or intoxication. Even in the family presence group, anxiety scores remained above national norms, so the finding does not mean family distress was resolved.

Do not conclude that family presence during trauma resuscitation caused lower anxiety and stress or resolved distress. The groups were not randomly assigned, the option was supported by a family facilitator and hospital policy, satisfaction did not differ, and anxiety scores remained above national norms in both groups.