Family presence during trauma resuscitation: A survey of AAST and ENA members

Background: The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has formally resolved th at family presence (FP) during resuscitation and invasive procedures (TR) i s the right of the patient and is beneficial for both patients and family m embers. Furthermore, FP during TR has been implemented at several trauma ce nters. Because this policy is controversial, a survey was conducted to asse ss the opinions of members of the American Association for the Surgery of T rauma (AAST) and ENA in regard to FP, Methods: A survey instrument regarding FP during TR was mailed to the AAST membership (n = 813) and a random sampling (10%) of ENA members (n = 2,988) , Questions regarding membership (AAST vs. ENA), age, gender, years in prac tice, trauma experience, the patient's right to FP during the primary surve y, secondary survey, and invasive procedures, the potential effects of FP o n trauma team function, and medicolegal implications were included in the s urvey. Qualitative and quantitative variables were analyzed by analysis of variance and chi(2) analysis, respectively. Responses to questions by using a Likert Scale for degree of agreement were analyzed by using the Kruskal- Wallis test. Results: A total of 1,629 (AAST, n = 368; ENA, n = 1,261) surveys were retu rned (43.4% response). There were 44 surveys returned as undeliverable (1.2 %). The members of the AAST were older, more likely to be male, had been in practice longer, and had greater trauma experience when compared with ENA members (p < 0,001), More AAST than ENA members (97.8% vs. 80.2%) believed that FP during all phases of TR was inappropriate (p < 0.001). Fewer AAST m embers believed that FP was a patient right when compared with ENA members (p < 0.0001). The AAST members were more likely to believe FP interfered wi th patient care and increased the stress of trauma team members (p < 0,0001 ), The majority of AAST and ENA members had experience with FP during TR (5 5.3 vs. 67,8%;p < 0,001), However, the impressions of their experiences wer e widely disparate, with 63.6% of ENA and only 17.5% of AAST members, indic ating that the experience was beneficial (p < 0,001), Conclusion: Attitudes toward FP during TR are significantly different betwe en AAST and ENA members. Because of these differences in opinion, implement ation of an FP policy may create conflicts between trauma team members and may interfere with the effectiveness of the trauma team.