Resuscitation decisions in Irish long-stay units

Little is known of how cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decisions are made in Irish long-term care settings.

To examine how CPR decisions are made in Irish long-stay units and those factors associated with use or non-use of CPR.

We surveyed each public long-stay unit and a random sample of private nursing homes across the country.

Of the 84 long-stay units that responded (response rate 58%), basic CPR had been performed in 32% and advanced CPR (including defibrillation) in 10%. Only 13% of the units had a written CPR policy. Units performing CPR (N = 35) were closer to an acute hospital, more likely to have short-term residents and more likely to have a CPR policy (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between public and private units.

The widely disparate approaches to CPR in different Irish long-stay units suggest the need for national guidelines on this issue.