Nurses’ Assessment of Family Presence during Resuscitation of Patients: A Study at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Introduction: Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) is supported by multiple professional organizations as a means of implementing family-centered care during life-threatening situations. Patient- and Family-centered care is central to professional nursing practice.

Objective: This study sought to assess nurses’ attitude, practice and the factors that influence family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) of patient in emergency care in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). And recommend protocol for its implementation in order to suit this current era of ensuring family centered and holistic care.

Methodology: The study was a descriptive with quantitative approach conducted between May to September, 2018. Convenient sampling method was used to select a sample 103 nurses who works at the emergency and accident department of KATH. Data was analyzed with the use of SPSS version 16 statistical package.

Result and Findings: From the study a few number of the respondents 23 (22%) has never had resuscitation in the presence of family during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). About, 70% of respondents would want to be present during resuscitation of a close family member, and 65% of the respondents will want family member to be present if they were being resuscitated.

Among factors influencing FPDR were found to include; FPDR pose threat to the confidentiality of patients’ information (54%), make healthcare workers more liable to malpractice suits during invasive procedures (55%) and resuscitations (52%). Again, nurses believe family presence will neither disrupt the organization of the resuscitation nor create emotionally difficult during resuscitation except in invasive procedures were nurses believe that it will make family members anxious. The practice of FPDR is high among nurse as majority of respondents (78%) have practiced family presence during resuscitation before.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the behavior of nurses toward FPDR is very encouraging. Besides invasive procedures where nurse believe could be traumatic to patient’s relative, nurses are willing to practice FPDR. Factors revealed in the study to influence the practice of FPDR is perceived stress to family members, invasive procedure resuscitation and possible malpractice suits.