Attitudes towards CPR training and performance in family members of patients with heart disease

Considering that heart patients may be at higher risk for cardiac arrest, t his study was conducted to evaluate the preparedness and willingness of car diac patient family members to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A cross-sectional survey of 100 family members of cardiac patients was con ducted at a tertiary care emergency department over a 1.5-month period. Res ponse rate was 95%. While 49% reported prior CPR training, only 7% trained within the past year. The majority received training (59%) because of a sch ool or job requirement with only 8% trained because of concern for a family member. The most frequent reasons for not being trained were 'never though t about it' or 'not interested' (57%). However, 49% of the untrained group did report an interest in future training. While 2% of respondents recalled a healthcare professional suggesting such training, 58% stated they would be influenced positively by such a recommendation. The most frequently repo rted barriers to performing CPR included fear of harming the patient or a l ack of knowledge and skill to help. Despite a presumed higher risk for sudd en cardiac death, most family members of cardiac patients do not maintain s kills in basic CPR. Healthcare professionals may have the ability to signif icantly alter this concerning statistic through education and routine recom mendations to patients' families. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Al l rights reserved.