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Cardiac arrest
Bystanders describe heavy emotional toll of doing CPR
Experiences and coping strategies of bystanders involved in out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A qualitative study
Resuscitation Plus · 2026-10 · Added 1 November 2026
A Scottish qualitative study of 11 bystanders who performed CPR in an OHCA found a substantial emotional impact — worst when the patient died or was known to them — with themes of being compelled to help but unprepared, and identified better emotional preparation in CPR training and access to a knowledgeable independent person as ways to reduce it.
- Study type
- Qualitative
- Design
- Qualitative — semi-structured interviews, reflexive thematic analysis
- Participants
- 11 bystanders (9 knew the patient), recruited via social media, Scotland
- Main finding
- Four themes: emotional impact; managing multiple roles; compelled to help but unprepared; talking to the right person
- Caveat
- Small, self-selected sample recruited through social media advertisements
- Bottom line
- Hypothesis-generating
Why it matters in Australia (High relevance). Bystander experience after CPR is the same in any system, and CPR training and post-event support are things Australian ambulance services directly shape.
Learning goal
Understand the emotional impact on bystanders performing CPR and how dispatcher support can better prepare them.
More
- Topic: Cardiac arrest
- Daily scan: 1 November 2026
- Podcast: Paramedic Papers Daily, 1 November 2026
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