ATTITUDES OF DOCTORS AND NURSES TO RELATIVES WITNESSING CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION

There is increasing discussion about relatives being allowed to witness cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts. Most reports have emanated from Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. We undertook a survey of junior doctors and nurses in a university teaching hospital to ascertain their current attitudes to witnessed resuscitation. There was general agreement that if relatives witness resuscitation it may be beneficial to their grieving process. However, only a small majority of nurses and a minority of doctors agreed that relatives should be offered the opportunity to witness CPR. Doctors and nurses strongly agreed that emotional stress can be increased by the presence of relatives who may be traumatised by the procedures involved. Doctors felt more strongly that the presence of relatives may interfere with treatment (p = 0.006) and that allowing relatives to witness resuscitation may inhibit staff performance (p = 0.02). There was universal agreement that if relatives were to witness CPR they should be supported by a member of staff. The survey has provided useful information about current attitudes to witnessed CPR, which should be included for discussion in advanced life support training sessions.