Family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures: physicians' and nurses' attitudes working in pediatric departments in Greece

Family presence during patient acute deterioration: A survey of nurses' attitudes and reflection on COVID-19 in an African setting

Introduction

Acute deterioration refers to a patient who has become physiologically unstable requiring acute care. Family presence during resuscitation efforts has been widely supported by literature. Nurses are often the primary contact for the families of patients in the emergency centre, playing an important role in facilitating family presence during acute care. To describe nurses’ attitudes regarding family presence during the management of acutely deteriorating patients in the emergency centre.

Methods

A descriptive quantitative study was conducted in the emergency centres of three public hospitals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A total sample of professional nurses (n = 57) were recruited, to complete the Emergency Department Family Presence (EDFP) survey. Statements about the negative effects of family presence during acute care of a deteriorating patient were presented and respondents were required to agree or disagree. Data were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The majority of the nurses agreed with the items in the EDFP survey agreeing that present relatives may misinterpret activities of health care professionals (92.8%) which can result in complaints about the quality of care (91.1%). Nurses with more years of experience (11–21 years) were more likely to disagree with the statements on family presence having negative effects on patient care than nurses with fewer years of experience (0–10 years) (OR:6.92; 95%CI: 1.29–37.28).

Discussion

Nurses have the perception that family presence has a largely negative effect on patients, patient care and the families present during acute care. The contextual application of the practice of family presence during acute deterioration in an African setting needs investigation and the need for continued professional education on family centred care is emphasised. Alternative methods of facilitating family presence during the COVID-19 Pandemic must be considered as we advocate for the self determination of families and patients.

Family presence during resuscitation in paediatric and neonatal cardiac arrest: A systematic review

CONTEXT

Parent/family presence at pediatric resuscitations has been slow to become consistent practice in hospital settings and has not been universally implemented. A systematic review of the literature on family presence during pediatric and neonatal resuscitation has not been previously conducted.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review of the published evidence related to family presence during pediatric and neonatal resuscitation.

DATA SOURCES

Six major bibliographic databases was undertaken with defined search terms and including literature up to June 14, 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

3200 titles were retrieved in the initial search; 36 ultimately included for review.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data was double extracted independently by two reviewers and confirmed with the review team. All eligible studies were either survey or interview-based and as such we turned to narrative systematic review methodology.

RESULTS

The authors identified two key sets of findings: first, parents/family members want to be offered the option to be present for their child's resuscitation. Secondly, health care provider attitudes varied widely (ranging from 15% to >85%), however, support for family presence increased with previous experience and level of seniority.

LIMITATIONS

English language only; lack of randomized control trials; quality of the publications.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents wish to be offered the opportunity to be present but opinions and perspectives on the family presence vary greatly among health care providers. This topic urgently needs high quality, comparative research to measure the actual impact of family presence on patient, family and staff outcomes.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020140363.

Parents' Experience During a Child's Resuscitation: Getting Through It

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the experiences of parents during their child's resuscitation in the hospital setting.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study took place in a 280 bed children's hospital with parents whose children experienced resuscitation while they were present in the room or nearby. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between one and twelve months following a child's resuscitation. A rigorous thematic analysis was performed.

RESULTS

This study elucidates parent experience during a child's resuscitation using four overarching themes; "Overwhelming chaos", "Getting through it", "Cognitive presence" and "Joy mixed with heartache". Parents described their experience to be stressful, yet identified things that helped them get through it and make sense of the experience.

CONCLUSIONS

During a child's resuscitation parents perceived a sense of overwhelming chaos, yet still had an innate need to be present and know what was going on. While emotional support was appreciated, most important was to receive real time clinical information from healthcare staff and to see and feel that the team was personally invested in their child.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

During a child's resuscitation, parents should be allowed to choose their level of presence to meet their individual needs. A clinical staff member should answer questions and share clinical information with parents. In addition, clinicians should allow themselves to connect with parents on a personal level. This research provides a foundation for further study, including parents' experience after experiencing a child's resuscitation.

Parents’ Experience When Present During a Child’s Resuscitation: An Integrative Review

Understanding perceptions of parents is necessary to meet parents’ needs during a child’s resuscitation. Parent presence at pediatric resuscitations has been slow to become consistent practice in all hospital settings and remains controversial. The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize research on parents’ experience while present during a child’s resuscitation to improve understanding for health care providers and to facilitate application in practice. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, identifying four major themes. Parents experienced conflicting emotions, articulated a need for communication and support, reported that being physically present was comforting, and described their reactions to the experience. The available research on parents’ experience during presence at their child’s resuscitation offers a foundation for further detailed study. Further study is needed about parents’ perspective of support needed while present during a child’s resuscitation, as well as about any long-term effects of presence on parent stress and coping.

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.

A qualitative study of factors in nurses' and physicians' decision-making related to family presence during resuscitation

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore the similarities and differences in factors that influence nurses' and physicians' decision-making related to family presence during resuscitation.

BACKGROUND

Despite the growing acceptance of family presence during resuscitation worldwide, healthcare professionals continue to debate the risks and benefits of family presence. As many hospitals lack a policy to guide family presence during resuscitation, decisions are negotiated by resuscitation teams, families and patients in crisis situations. Research has not clarified the factors that influence the decision-making processes of nurses and physicians related to inviting family presence. This is the first study to elicit written data from healthcare professionals to explicate factors in decision-making about family presence.

DESIGN

Qualitative exploratory-descriptive.

METHODS

Convenience samples of registered nurses (n = 325) and acute care physicians (n = 193) from a Midwestern hospital in the United States of America handwrote responses to open-ended questions about family presence. Through thematic analysis, decision-making factors for physicians and nurses were identified and compared.

RESULTS

Physicians and nurses evaluated three similar factors and four differing factors when deciding to invite family presence during resuscitation. Furthermore, nurses and physicians weighted the factors differently. Physicians weighted most heavily the family's potential to disrupt life-saving efforts and compromise patient care and then the family's knowledge about resuscitations. Nurses heavily weighted the potential for the family to be traumatised, the potential for the family to disrupt the resuscitation, and possible family benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses and physicians considered both similar and different factors when deciding to invite family presence. Physicians focused on the patient primarily, while nurses focused on the patient, family and resuscitation team.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Knowledge of factors that influence the decision-making of interprofessional colleagues can improve collaboration and communication in crisis events of family presence during resuscitation.

A survey of key opinion leaders on ethical resuscitation practices in 31 European Countries

BACKGROUND

Europe is a patchwork of 47 countries with legal, cultural, religious, and economic differences. A prior study suggested variation in ethical resuscitation/end-of-life practices across Europe. This study aimed to determine whether this variation has evolved, and whether the application of ethical practices is associated with emergency care organisation.

METHODS

A questionnaire covering four domains of resuscitation ethics was developed based on consensus: (A) Approaches to end-of-life care and family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (B) Determinants of access to best resuscitation and post-resuscitation care; (C) Diagnosis of death and organ donation (D) Emergency care organisation. The questionnaire was sent to representatives of 32 countries. Responses to 4-choice or 2-choice questions pertained to local legislation and common practice. Positive responses were graded by 1 and negative responses by 0; grades were reconfirmed/corrected by respondents from 31/32 countries (97%). For each resuscitation/end-of-life practice a subcomponent score was calculated by grades' summation. Subcomponent scores' summation resulted in domain total scores.

RESULTS

Data from 31 countries were analysed. Domains A, B, and D total scores exhibited substantial variation (respective total score ranges, 1-41, 0-19 and 9-32), suggesting variable interpretation and application of bioethical principles, and particularly of autonomy. Linear regression revealed a significant association between domain A and D total scores (adjusted r(2)=0.42, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

According to key experts, ethical practices and emergency care still vary across Europe. There is need for harmonised legislation, and improved, education-based interpretation/application of bioethical principles. Better application of ethical practices may be associated with improved emergency care organisation.

FAMILY PERCEPTION ABOUT THEIR PRESENCE OR NOT IN A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY SITUATION

ABSTRACT The objective was to understand the perception of family members who experienced an emergency situation in relation to their presence or not during the child's treatment in the Pediatric Emergency Department. A qualitative study developed in a Pediatric Emergency Department. The study subjects consisted of ten relatives who had experienced an emergency situation. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and data were submitted for thematic content analysis. The results showed that among the ten relatives interviewed only one said that they preferred not to remain with the child during the emergency situation. Regarding the clinical condition of the children, five of them had special health care needs. Previous negative situations had influenced the family member's choice of staying during the assistance. Considering the benefits of family presence, it is recommended that nursing teams develop strategies which can facilitate the inclusion of the family in child care in any situation, while respecting the uniqueness of each person.

[Family's presence in the pediatric emergency room: opinion of health's professionals]

OBJECTIVE

To learn the opinion of health professionals regarding the presence of family during pediatric emergency care.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, performed with 46 health professionals, members of the medical and nursing team of a pediatric emergency service. The data were collected via the application of a questionnaire composed by variables related to the opinion of professionals about the studied subject, in line with the professional category and the vocational training time, as well as invasive procedures during which the presence of family is authorized by the professionals.

RESULTS

The medical staff and the professionals with shorter time after graduation (<10 years) were more favorable to the presence of family during emergency procedures. Regarding the complexity of the procedures, the nursing staff proved more favorable to the presence of family during less complex procedures-peripheral venous puncture and fluid sample-whereas the consent of the medical staff was similar, regardless the performed procedure-peripheral venous puncture, fluid sample, intraosseous puncture, tracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to allow the presence of family in the emergency room, it is necessary to sensitize health professionals, especially the nursing staff and the longer-term acting professionals, which are more resistant to allow the family to stay with the child during the emergency care.

Family presence during resuscitation: A Canadian Critical Care Society position paper

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests that patient outcomes are not affected by the offering of family presence during resuscitation (FPDR), and that psychological outcomes are neutral or improved in family members of adult patients. The exclusion of family members from the resuscitation area should, therefore, be reassessed.

OBJECTIVE

The present Canadian Critical Care Society position paper is designed to help clinicians and institutions decide whether to incorporate FPDR as part of their routine clinical practice, and to offer strategies to implement FPDR successfully.

METHODS

The authors conducted a literature search of the perspectives of health care providers, patients and families on the topic of FPDR, and considered the relevant ethical values of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy and justice in light of the clinical evidence for FPDR. They reviewed randomized controlled trials and observational studies of FPDR to determine strategies that have been used to screen family members, select appropriate chaperones and educate staff.

RESULTS

FPDR is an ethically sound practice in Canada, and may be considered for the families of adult and pediatric patients in the hospital setting. Hospitals that choose to implement FPDR should develop transparent policies regarding which family members are to be offered the opportunity to be present during the resuscitation. Experienced chaperones should accompany and support family members in the resuscitation area. Intensive educational interventions and increasing experience with FPDR are associated with increased support for the practice from health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS

FPDR should be considered to be an important component of patient and family-centred care.

Family-centered care in the pediatric intensive care unit

Patient-centered and family-centered care (PFCC) has been endorsed by many professional health care organizations. Although variably defined, PFCC is an approach to care that is respectful of and responsive to the preferences, needs, and values of individual patients and their families. Research regarding PFCC in the pediatric intensive care unit has focused on 4 areas including (1) family visitation; (2) family-centered rounding; (3) family presence during invasive procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and (4) family conferences. Although challenges to successful implementation exist, the growing body of evidence suggests that PFCC is beneficial to patients, families, and staff.

Family-centred care for hospitalised children aged 0-12 years

BACKGROUND

This is an update of the Cochrane systematic review of family-centred care published in 2007 (Shields 2007). Family-centred care (FCC) is a widely used model in paediatrics, is thought to be the best way to provide care to children in hospital and is ubiquitous as a way of delivering care. When a child is admitted, the whole family is affected. In giving care, nurses, doctors and others must consider the impact of the child's admission on all family members. However, the effectiveness of family-centred care as a model of care has not been measured systematically.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of family-centred models of care for hospitalised children aged from birth (unlike the previous version of the review, this update excludes premature neonates) to 12 years, when compared to standard models of care, on child, family and health service outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

In the original review, we searched up until 2004. For this update, we searched: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL,The Cochrane Library, Issue 12 2011); MEDLINE (Ovid SP); EMBASE (Ovid SP); PsycINFO (Ovid SP); CINAHL (EBSCO Host); and Sociological Abstracts (CSA). We did not search three that were included in the original review: Social Work Abstracts, the Australian Medical Index and ERIC. We searched EMBASE in this update only and searched from 2004 onwards. There was no limitation by language. We performed literature searches in May and June 2009 and updated them again in December 2011.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including cluster randomised trials in which family-centred care models are compared with standard models of care for hospitalised children (0 to 12 years, but excluding premature neonates). Studies had to meet criteria for family-centredness. In order to assess the degree of family-centredness, we used a modified rating scale based on a validated instrument, (same instrument used in the initial review), however, we decreased the family-centredness score for inclusion from 80% to 50% in this update. We also changed several other selection criteria in this update: eligible study designs are now limited to randomised controlled trials (RCTs) only; single interventions not reflecting a FCC model of care have been excluded; and the selection criterion whereby studies with inadequate or unclear blinding of outcome assessment were excluded from the review has been removed.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors undertook searches, and four authors independently assessed studies against the review criteria, while two were assigned to extract data. We contacted study authors for additional information.

MAIN RESULTS

Six studies found since 2004 were originally viewed as possible inclusions, but when the family-centred score assessment was tested, only one met the minimum score of family-centredness and was included in this review. This was an unpublished RCT involving 288 children post-tonsillectomy in a care-by-parent unit (CBPU) compared with standard inpatient care.The study used a range of behavioural, economic and physical measures. It showed that children in the CBPU were significantly less likely to receive inadequate care compared with standard inpatient admission, and there were no significant differences for their behavioural outcomes or other physical outcomes. Parents were significantly more satisfied with CBPU care than standard care, assessed both before discharge and at 7 days after discharge. Costs were lower for CPBU care compared with standard inpatient care. No other outcomes were reported. The study was rated as being at low to unclear risk of bias.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This update of a review has found limited, moderate-quality evidence that suggests some benefit of a family-centred care intervention for children's clinical care, parental satisfaction, and costs, but this is based on a small dataset and needs confirmation in larger RCTs. There is no evidence of harms. Overall, there continues to be little high-quality quantitative research available about the effects of family-centred care. Further rigorous research on the use of family-centred care as a model for care delivery to children and families in hospitals is needed. This research should implement well-developed family-centred care interventions, ideally in randomised trials. It should investigate diverse participant groups and clinical settings, and should assess a wide range of outcomes for children, parents, staff and health services.