Experiencing Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest : Significant Others’ Lifeworld Perspective

• When patients suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA), significant others find themselves with no choice about being there. Afterwards they are often left with unanswered questions about the life-threatening circumstances, or the patient’s death, the emergency treatment and future needs. When it is unclear how the care, and the event itself will affect significant others’ well being, prehospital emergency personnel face ethical decisions. This study describes the experiences of significant others present at OHCA, focusing on ethical aspects and values. Using a lifeworld phenomenological approach, seven significant others were interviewed. The essence of the phenomenon of OHCA can be stated as: Unreality in the reality; Overwhelming responsibility; Inadequacy and limitation; Hope and hopelessness; Ethical considerations; Insecurity about the future; Trembling of life. These study findings show how significant others’ sense of unreality, inadequacy, and overwhelming responsibility at OHCA can threaten values deemed important for a good life. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

crisis management

emergency medical services

ethics

families

quality of life

phenomenology

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Vårdvetenskap

Caring Science

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)