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Psychological Outcomes of Family Members Related to a Loved One's Resuscitation in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Psychological Outcomes of Family Members Related to a Loved One's Resuscitation in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ira Rahmawati, Tamara Page, Lisa Conlon, Anggun Setyarini and Frank Donnelly
Journal of Advanced Nursing , Early View
23/02/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70555
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CC BY-NC-ND V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

cardiopulmonary resuscitation family perceptions family presence family-witnessed resuscitation post-traumatic stress disorder quality of life
Aims This study aimed to assess the psychological outcomes of family members of patients who were resuscitated in the Emergency Department (ED) and analyse factors associated with these outcomes. Design This study utilised a cross-sectional design Methods Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire sent to family members of patients who had undergone resuscitation in the ED from February 2024 to January 2025. Instruments for data collection included The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the short version of The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale–21 items (DASS-21), the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI) and questions related to demographic variables and the resuscitation event. Results A total of 106 family members completed the questionnaire. Of this, 64.2% (n = 68) reported witnessing the resuscitation attempt, and 35.8% (n = 38) did not witness the event. Family members who witnessed the resuscitation displayed more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), measured by the IES-R, compared to those who did not witness the event. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the IES-R and the MQLI scores, indicating that higher PTSD symptoms correlate with lower quality of life (QoL) ratings. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated that witnessing the resuscitation of a loved one in the ED is associated with increased PTSD symptoms. Implications for Health Professionals and Patient Care Patients' and family members' cultural and religious needs should be acknowledged by the health care providers. Study findings indicate that family members prefer to be with the patient during the patient's resuscitation. However, without adequate support from hospital staff, this experience may cause adverse psychological effects. Strategies to support family members during and after resuscitation should be developed and integrated into the management of in-hospital resuscitation. Reporting Method This study followed the STROBE guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.

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