The attitudes of team members towards family presence during hospital-based CPR: a study based in the Muslim setting of four Iranian teaching hospitals

Background:

Contrary   to   international   guidelines   recommending   family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), allowing family members to be present remains a matter of debate in many countries. The purpose of this study  was  to  determine  the  opinions  of  healthcare  providers  from  a  Muslim setting concerning family-witnessed resuscitation (FWR).
Methods:
The sample population consisted of CPR responders in four teaching hospitals in Tehran. These centres have no policy regarding the presence of family members  during  resuscitation.  We  developed  and  circulated  a  questionnaire gathering opinions, and collated their comments.
Results:
From 200 respondents, 77% opposed FWR. We found that gender, age, experience,  previous  exposure  to  FWR  or  specialty  (except  for  emergency physicians)  did  not  predict  opinion  towards  family  presence  during  CPR. The most  common  reasons  given  for  opposition  to  family  presence  were  fear  of psychological trauma to family members, possible interference with patient care/decision-making, and a perceived increase in staff stress.
Conclusion:
In a largely Muslim community, and contrary to general guidelines, our survey suggested that the majority of CPR responders do not favour the presence of  relatives  during  cardiopulmonary  resuscitation.  Any  counter  to  this  opinion would need to be based on educating team members about the possible benefits of relatives being present during resuscitation. Public education surrounding CPR would  also  be  a  fundamental  element  for  implementing  any  formal  programme encouraging family-witnessed CPR in hospitals such as ours.