Narratives about resuscitation—Family members differ about presence
Received 3 February 2005; received in revised form 16 May 2005; accepted 24 August 2005. published online 04 October 2005.
Abstract
Background
Healthcare professionals disagree about admitting family members into the resuscitation room.
Aim
The aim of this study was to illuminate family members' experiences and views about being present in the resuscitation room with a relative requiring resuscitation.
Results
Seventeen family members were interviewed. Their narratives were analysed using content analysis. The main theme was interpreted as family members being “afraid of disturbing the resuscitation efforts, meaning that the most important person for them was the patient”. Three groups of persons were in focus: patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. The theme related to the patient was “to be caring for the good of oneself and others” describing what family members believed the patient would want and what they themselves would have wanted if in the same situation. The themes related to family members were “to be dependent on the interplay between trusting oneself and advocating the patient and to be sensitive to one's own emotions and to be reasonable”. The theme related to healthcare professionals was “to submit to or ignore the guidance of the healthcare professionals”.
Conclusion
Family members differ about their presence in the resuscitation room. Omnipresent in the narratives was being afraid of disturbing the resuscitation efforts.
ABSTRACT