Witnessed resuscitation: a concept analysis.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care
• Nursing Research

Background:

• The term "witnessed resuscitation" is frequently used in literature, often associated with family presence during resuscitation attempts.
• This association has persisted for over a decade, despite evolving practices in critical care.
• Existing literature lacks a clear, universally accepted definition of witnessed resuscitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the concept of "witnessed resuscitation" using Rodgers' concept analysis process.
• To explore the various meanings and contexts of witnessed resuscitation in emergency and critical care.
• To differentiate the core concept from its common association with family presence.

Main Methods:

• Application of Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis framework.
• Systematic review of literature related to resuscitation and family presence.
• Identification of defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of witnessed resuscitation.

Main Results:

• Analysis revealed conceptual variations in the use of "witnessed resuscitation."
• The concept is not exclusively tied to family presence in the resuscitation room.
• A model case illustrating the defining attributes of witnessed resuscitation was developed.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced conceptual clarity regarding "witnessed resuscitation" is needed.
• Distinguishing the core concept from specific scenarios like family presence is crucial for accurate research and practice.
• Further research should refine the definition and application of witnessed resuscitation in critical care contexts.