Review of Evidence About Family Presence During Resuscitation

The Effect of Family Presence During Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures on Patients and Families: An Umbrella Review

INTRODUCTION

The concept of family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures is a controversial issue and has not been universally adopted by health care providers. Owing to the sheer number of studies in this field, we conducted this umbrella study to provide an overview of this concept with the aim of investigating the impact of family presence on patients, families, and resuscitation and invasive procedures.

METHODS

In this review, using the Joanna Briggs Institute levels of evidence umbrella methodology guidelines, the authors searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane database for systematic review and meta-analysis studies that evaluated the presence of family during resuscitation and invasive procedures without time limit until July 2020. The following key words were used for the search: family presence; family witness; parent presence; parent witness; and resuscitation.

RESULTS

A total of 254 articles published between January 1967 and July 2020 were screened. Five articles (1 meta-analysis and 4 systematic reviews) met the inclusion criteria. The review showed that family presence during resuscitation or invasive procedures does not have negative effects on family members, patients, or the resuscitation or invasive intervention process. Family members focus on the patients, not the ongoing treatment. The presence of family members is beneficial for both family members and health care staff. None of the reviewed studies reported a negative effect on family members.

DISCUSSION

The presence of parents and other immediate family members during resuscitation and invasive procedures has positive impacts on patients, families, and health care staff.

In-hospital family-witnessed resuscitation with a focus on the prevalence, processes, and outcomes of resuscitation: A retrospective observational cohort study

AIM

International and national guidelines support in-hospital, family-witnessed resuscitation, provided that patients are not negatively affected. Empirical evidence regarding whether family presence interferes with resuscitation procedures is still scarce. The aim was to describe the prevalence and processes of family-witnessed resuscitation in hospitalised adult patients, and to investigate associations between family-witnessed resuscitation and the outcomes of resuscitation.

METHODS

Nationwide observational cohort study based on data from the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

RESULTS

In all, 3257 patients with sudden, in-hospital cardiac arrests were included. Of those, 395 had family on site (12%), of whom 186 (6%) remained at the scene. It was more common to offer family the option to stay during resuscitation if the cardiac arrest occurred in emergency departments, intensive-care units or cardiac-care units, compared to hospital wards (44% vs. 26%, p < 0.001). It was also more common for a staff member to be assigned to take care of family in acute settings (68% vs. 56%, p = 0.017). Mean time from cardiac arrest to termination of resuscitation was longer in the presence of family (20.67 min vs. 17.49 min, p = 0.020), also when controlling for different patient and contextual covariates in a regression model (Stand(β) 0.039, p = 0.027). No differences were found between family-witnessed and non-family-witnessed resuscitation in survival immediately after resuscitation (57% vs. 53%, p = 0.291) or after 30 days (35% vs. 29%, p = 0.086).

CONCLUSIONS

In-hospital, family-witnessed resuscitation is uncommon, but the processes and outcomes do not seem to be negatively affected, suggesting that staff should routinely invite family to witness resuscitation.

Family presence during resuscitation: a needs assessment of education, policy, and opinion in Canada

PURPOSE

Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) has been widely endorsed. Nevertheless, there is limited information available on current education and training used to support FPDR implementation, including that of relevant policy. Understanding the current state of FPDR educational opportunities, policies, and practices across Canadian hospitals is crucial to advancing and standardizing these within our medical community. Our objective was to identify the current and desired state of education and policy on FPDR, as well as current practices and opinions of Canadian healthcare professionals.

METHODS

We selected questionnaire topics and employed a modified Delphi consensus technique using a group of subject matter experts in resuscitation. We contacted a stratified sample of Canadian healthcare professionals via select listservs and surveyed the cohort using RedCAP™. We used descriptive statistics and conducted quantitative analyses to describe and test for significant differences among groups.

RESULTS

In total, 635 surveys were completed. Only 46.3% of participants reported ever attending an educational opportunity involving learning how to manage FPDR; however, 92% wanted training. Only 11% knew if they had an official FPDR policy in their current hospital but 62.9% indicated they wanted one. In support of FPDR, 88% agreed that family members should be allowed to be present during a resuscitation.

CONCLUSION

While opinions are mostly positive towards FPDR, there exists a gap between the current and desired state of education and policy supporting it within Canada.

Original Research: Family Presence During Resuscitation: Medical-Surgical Nurses' Perceptions, Self-Confidence, and Use of Invitations

BACKGROUND

Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) upholds family-centered care principles and can result in better family member outcomes; yet it isn't routinely implemented by nurses. Prior studies have examined predictors of support for FPDR among nurses caring for high acuity patients, but limited research involves medical-surgical nurses. This is problematic because resuscitation occurs in all inpatient settings.

PURPOSE

This study sought to examine the personal, professional, and workplace factors associated with medical-surgical nurses' perceptions, self-confidence, and use of invitations regarding FPDR. It also aimed to explore potential barriers to FPDR and nurses' educational preferences, in order to inform the design of interventions that might improve FPDR implementation in this practice setting.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine which factors are predictors of medical-surgical nurses' FPDR perceptions, self-confidence, and use of invitations. Data on nurses' perceptions of barriers and educational preferences were collected via survey as well.

RESULTS

The sample of 51 medical-surgical nurses reported overall neutral perceptions of FPDR. Yet 63% had never invited family members to experience resuscitation. The most significant predictor of more favorable perceptions, higher self-confidence, and greater use of invitations was having prior experience with FPDR. Analysis of perceived barriers indicates that these can be addressed through providing nurses with supportive FPDR policies and education. But only 14% of participants reported that their facility or unit had a written FPDR policy and just 16% had ever received any FPDR education.

CONCLUSIONS

FPDR is not commonly practiced on medical-surgical units. Providing medical-surgical nurses with experience, policies, and education is recommended to improve FPDR implementation rates in this practice setting.

Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and invasive procedures: a meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the best qualitative evidence regarding the perception of family members, patients and health professionals about family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and invasive procedures.

METHOD

Systematic review with meta-synthesis performed in the databases of Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, MEDLINE, Embase and VHL. Articles published between 2010 and 2017 were included and evaluated with use of the Qualitative Data Extraction Instrument.

RESULTS

In total, were found 2,391 articles, out of which 26 were selected, and 24 were analyzed. The identified meta-theme was 'A pendular perspective: different views on family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and invasive procedures', which is supported by the following themes: Benefits resulting from family presence; Disadvantages and/or limiting factors of family presence; and Context: environmental, sociocultural and care factors influencing the perception of family presence.

CONCLUSION

The perception of family members, patients and professionals about family presence is still controversial. The sensitization of these subjects can potentiate the practice by making it more systematized and qualified.

Family Presence During Resuscitation: Physicians' Perceptions of Risk, Benefit, and Self-Confidence

BACKGROUND

Families often desire proximity to loved ones during life-threatening resuscitations and perceive clear benefits to being present. However, critical care nurses and physicians perceive risks and benefits. Whereas research is accumulating on nurses' perceptions of family presence, physicians' perspectives have not been clearly explicated. Psychometrically sound measures of physicians' perceptions are needed to create new knowledge and enhance collaboration among critical care nurses and physicians during resuscitation events.

OBJECTIVE

This study tests 2 new instruments that measure physicians' perceived risks, benefits, and self-confidence related to family presence during resuscitation.

METHODS

By a correlational design, a convenience sample of physicians (N = 195) from diverse clinical specialties in 1 hospital in the United States completed the Physicians' Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale and Physicians' Family Presence Self-confidence Scale.

RESULTS

Findings supported the internal consistency reliability and construct validity of both new scales. Mean scale scores indicated that physicians perceived more risk than benefit and were confident in managing resuscitations with families present, although more than two-thirds reported feeling anxious. Higher self-confidence was significantly related to more perceived benefit and less perceived risk (P = .001). Younger physicians, family practice physicians, and physicians who previously had invited family presence expressed more positive perceptions (P = .05-.001).

DISCUSSION

These 2 new scales offer a means to assess key perceptions of physicians related to family presence. Further testing in diverse physician populations may further validate the scales and yield knowledge that can strengthen collaboration among critical care nurses and physicians and improve patient and family outcomes.

Emergency nurses’ attitudes towards the concept of witnessed resuscitation

Objective:

to review the most relevant evidence on the nurses’ attitudes towards witnessed resuscitation, in the inpatient and out-of-hospital spheres.

Method:

integrative literature review, covering the period from 2008 till 2015, using the databases PubMed, Lilacs and SciELO; in Spanish, English and Portuguese. The pediatric context was excluded from the study.

Results:

the synthesis of the data resulted in the inclusion of 10 articles, categorized as: positive attitudes and negative attitudes.

Conclusions:

discrepancies exist among the nurses from different contexts and geographical regions towards the concept; protocols need to be established for this situation, in view of the advantages evidenced in the literature, for the nursing professionals as well as the relatives. Witnessed resuscitation can represent an opportunity to understand and cope with the rational and irrational in the situation in a shared manner, as well as mitigate or dignify the mourning.

Factors associated with nurses' perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation in the intensive care unit: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Family presence during resuscitation is not widely implemented in clinical practice. Prior research about nurse factors that may influence their decision to invite family members to remain in the room during resuscitation is contradictory and inconclusive.

OBJECTIVES

To describe intensive care unit nurses' perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation, and to evaluate differences according to nurse factors.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey design was used for descriptive and correlational analyses.

SETTING

Data collection occurred online.

PARTICIPANTS

A convenience sample of 395 nurses working in intensive care units across the United States was obtained.

METHODS

Participants completed a survey to collect personal, professional, and workplace information. The Family Presence Risk-Benefit Scale and Family Presence Self-confidence Scale were administered, and frequency of inviting family members to be in the room during resuscitation was collected by self-report. Following descriptive analysis of univariate distributions, a series of hierarchical OLS regression analyses was used to identify which personal, professional, or workplace factors yielded the largest unique impact on nurse perceptions, self-confidence, and invitations of family presence during resuscitation.

RESULTS

Despite high frequency of performing resuscitative care, one-third of participants had never invited family members to be in the room during resuscitation during their careers, and another 33% had invited family members to be present just 1-5 times. Having had clinical experience with family presence during resuscitation was the strongest predictor of positive perceptions, higher self-confidence, and increased invitations. In addition, having received education on family presence during resuscitation and a written facility policy were found to be key professional and workplace predictors of perceptions and invitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses who work in a facility with a policy on family presence during resuscitation, are educated on it, and have experienced it in the clinical setting are more likely to have positive perceptions and higher self-confidence, and to invite family members to be in the room during resuscitation with increased frequency. Nurses in leadership roles should create policies for their units and provide education to nurses and other healthcare providers. Due to the apparent importance of clinical experience with family presence during resuscitation, it is recommended to initially provide this experience using simulation and role modeling.

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016

OBJECTIVE

To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012."

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development.

METHODS

The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable.

RESULTS

The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality.

Family presence during resuscitation: A descriptive study with Iranian nurses and patients' family members

BACKGROUND

Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) has advantages for the patients' family member to be present at the bedside. However, FPDR is not regularly practiced by nurses, especially in low to middle income countries. The purpose of this study was to determine Iranian nurses' and family members' attitudes towards FPDR.

METHOD

In a descriptive study, data was collected from the random sample of 178 nurses and 136 family members in four hospitals located in Iran. A 27-item questionnaire was used to collect data on attitudes towards FPDR, and descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Of family members, particularly the women, 57.2% (n=78) felt it is their right to experience FPDR and that it has many advantages for the family; including the ability to see that everything was done and worry less. However, 62.5% (n=111) of the nurses disagreed with an adult implementation of FPDR. Nurses perceived FPDR to have many disadvantages. Family members becoming distressed and interfering with the patient which may prolong the resuscitation effort. Nurses with prior education on FPDR were more willing to implement it.

CONCLUSION

FPDR was desired by the majority of family members. To meet their needs, it is important to improve Iranian nurses' views about the advantages of the implementation of FPDR. Education on FPDR is recommended to improve Iranian nurses' views about the advantages of the implementation of FPDR.

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016

OBJECTIVE

To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012".

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development.

METHODS

The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable.

RESULTS

The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality.

Family Presence During Resuscitation: Impact of Online Learning on Nurses' Perception and Self-confidence

BACKGROUND

Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) is supported by patients and their family members. Nurses, however, including critical care nurses who frequently implement resuscitative care, have mixed views.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the impact of online learning on critical care nurses' perception of and self-confidence with FPDR.

METHODS

A 2-group, random assignment, pretest and posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted with critical care nurses recruited nationally. An online learning module on FPDR was developed and administered to the intervention group. Perceptions and self-confidence for FPDR were measured by using the Family Presence Risk- Benefit Scale (FPR-BS) and the Family Presence Self-confidence Scale (FPS-CS). Two-factor, mixed-model factorial analysis of variance was used to compare mean scores.

RESULTS

A total of 74 critical care nurses participated in the study. Mean FPR-BS and FPS-CS scores were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group. For the intervention group, mean scores on the FPR-BS increased from 3.63 to 4.07 (P < .001) and on the FPS-CS increased from 4.24 to 4.57 (P < .001), signifying improved perception and self-confidence. Scores did not change significantly in the control group: mean FPR-BS score increased from 3.82 to 3.88 (P = .23) and the mean FPS-CS score of 4.40 did not change (P > .99).

CONCLUSIONS

Online learning is a feasible and effective method for educating large numbers of critical care nurses about FPDR. Online learning can improve perceptions and self-confidence related to FPDR, which may promote more widespread adoption of FPDR into practice.