Should the family be permitted to accompany the patient during resuscitation?

Abstract

Family is considered to be an essential part of support, especially during difficult times. Similarly, during life-threatening situations, the presence of family is considered a controversial issue in healthcare settings. It has been observed that family members are often requested to wait outside the patient's room throughout the resuscitation process. On the one hand, their presence can assist in making decisions and accepting reality, which therefore eases their grieving process, while on the other hand, watching the resuscitation process can also make them emotionally unstable and may also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder in the future. The purpose of this literature review is to identify and analyze the various barriers and facilitators associated with the presence of family members during resuscitation procedures. A review of studies published between 2013 and 2022 was taken using databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar Search Engine, and Science Direct. "Family support", "family presence during resuscitation," and "family presence during CPR" were the keywords used during the search. In this review, a total of 22 studies were included based on their relevant titles, abstracts, and backgrounds.