Personal preferences regarding family member presence during resuscitation

Previous studies have shown that family members wish to be present during the resuscitation of a family member. No studies have addressed whether the patient would want family members present if he or she required resuscitation. The authors wanted to determine patients' preferences regarding family member presence during their own resuscitation.

A seven-item survey was administered to a sample of patients and their family members older than 17 years of age on six randomly chosen shifts in an academic community hospital emergency department. Responses were analyzed using chi-square and t-tests. Subjective comments were also recorded.

A total of 266 subjects were asked to participate in the study; 200 subjects agreed to complete the survey. Most (72%) wanted a family member present. However, 21% did not wish any family member to be present. Positive responders (family present) tended to be younger (mean, 39.4 years; 95% confidence interval = 36.7 to 42.2) than negative responders (mean, 50.5 years; 95% confidence interval = 42.9 to 55.7; p < 0.001). Positive responders were also more likely to be nonwhite (chi2 = 6.29, p < 0.05). Gender, education, or health status was not associated with responder type. Of positive responders, 56% stated they wanted only certain members present, and these preferences were variable.

Patients preferred to have family members present during their resuscitation. However, most of the positive responders wanted only certain members present, and approximately one in five patients, who tended to be older and white, did not want any family present. This study does not support an open policy of allowing family members into a resuscitation without prior knowledge of the patient's preferences.