Psychological Outcomes of Family Members Related to a Loved One's Resuscitation in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ira Rahmawati, Tamara Page, Lisa Conlon and 2 others
PMID 41731712WHAT IT FOUND
Family members who witnessed a loved one's resuscitation reported more post-traumatic stress symptoms than those who did not.
Most still wanted to be present, often for religious reasons. This is an association, not proof witnessing caused distress.
Key findings
01Family members who witnessed resuscitation had higher post-traumatic stress symptom scores than those who did not, and the association remained after adjustment.
02There were no significant differences between witnesses and non-witnesses in depression, anxiety, stress or quality of life scores.
03Most family members said presence during resuscitation was important (90.57%) and felt they had a right to choose to be present (85.8%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was done in one Indonesian hospital, and most respondents were Javanese and Muslim, so it may not apply to other cultures. The design measured people once after the event, so it cannot show that witnessing caused PTSD symptoms. Witness status was self-reported, and the study did not record whether presence was chosen, allowed, or due to closer family bonds. Respondents were contacted at least 1 month after resuscitation, with median time 80.5 days, and symptoms may have changed before or after that point. Only 106 of 123 family members who agreed completed the survey, and the overall response rate was 46%. No formal family presence policy or designated family support person was in place, so the effect of family presence alone cannot be separated from the absence of support.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) Indonesia. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that family presence during resuscitation causes PTSD. The study only compared witnesses and non-witnesses after the event, and witnesses may have been closer to the patient or chosen to stay. No family support person was assigned.