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Cardiac arrest
Relatives' needs after failed OHCA resuscitation
When prehospital resuscitation attempts are unsuccessful: care for the relatives following termination of treatment in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · Added 8 September 2026
Interviews with 15 relatives present at unsuccessful out-of-hospital resuscitations showed their needs shift across three phases — dispatch guidance, help-or-withdraw during resus, then compassionate unhurried communication when efforts stop.
- Study type
- Qualitative
- Design
- Qualitative semi-structured interview study with systematic text condensation
- Participants
- 15 relatives present at unsuccessful out-of-hospital resuscitations
- Main finding
- Three phases with distinct needs: valued dispatch guidance, then either withdrawal or desire to assist during resuscitation, then compassionate unhurried communication at termination; community first responders provided emotional support.
- Caveat
- Small qualitative sample; Danish setting
- Bottom line
- Context only
Why it matters in Australia (High relevance). transferability — death notification and family care are core AP work, directly actionable with no new kit
Learning goal
Understand how relatives' needs change during and after an unsuccessful out-of-hospital resuscitation, so I can communicate with compassion.
More
- Topic: Cardiac arrest
- Daily scan: 8 September 2026
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