Residents' opinion on family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Residents' Opinion on Family Presence During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Objectives: In-hospital cardiac arrest is common; approximately half of these arrests occur in wards, with the remaining half occurring in other locations such as intensive care units and operating rooms. The aim of this study was to determine the residents' opinion and attitudes in four medical specialties who are more likely to encounter in-hospital cardiac arrest and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regarding the family presence during resuscitation (FPDR). Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey was administered to a convenience sample of residents in the departments of Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Cardiology, and Internal Medicine working in a tertiary university hospital. Approval of the Ethics Committee was obtained prior to the study. The survey consisted of 3 sections: 1. Demographic data; 2. Information on professional training and CPR practice; 3. Survey questions regarding opinion and attitudes. The survey included a 5-point Likert and open-ended questions. Results: During the study period, 171 (76.7%) of 223 residents participated in the survey in four clinics. 81.3% of the participants stated that they did not know the concept of RSAB and 84.3% stated that they had not experienced RSAB. 37 (92.5%) of emergency medicine physicians and 71 (54.1%) of other department physicians stated that they did not want family members to be present during CPR. Emergency medicine residents agreed with the following views statistically significantly more than physicians from other departments regarding FPDR: 1. Family members may witness some mistakes or misinterpret the practice; 2. It is stressful for code team members; 3. Family members may be negatively affected by what they see; 4. It poses a physical threat to code team members; 5. It increases the likelihood that code team members will be exposed to legal liability; 6. It prevents the training of junior personnel during CPR. Conclusions: The awareness of medical residents regarding FPDR is still very low. Although the number of physicians who have experienced this practice is low, it is seen that a negative opinion prevails, especially among Emergency Medicine physicians. For this concept to become widespread, physicians need to be trained in this subject, their experience needs to be increased, and further studies need to be conducted to address concerns. Key Words: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Family presence during resuscitation, Emergency Medicine, Residents