• Matthew J Douma, Calah Myhre, Samina Ali, Tim A D Graham, Kim Ruether, Peter G Brindley, Katie N Dainty, Katherine E Smith, Carmel L Montgomery, Liz Dennet, Christopher Picard, Kate Frazer, and Thilo Kroll.
• J Emerg Nurs. 2023 Nov 1; 49 (6): 912950912-950.

IntroductionCardiac arrest care systems are being designed and implemented to address patients', family members', and survivors' care needs. We conducted a systematic review and a meta-synthesis to understand family experiences and care needs during cardiac arrest care to create treatment recommendations.MethodsWe searched eight electronic databases to identify articles. Study findings were extracted, coded and synthesized. Confidence in the quality, coherence, relevance, and adequacy of data underpinning the resulting findings was assessed using GRADE-CERQual methods.ResultsIn total 4181 studies were screened, and 39 met our inclusion criteria; these studies enrolled 215 survivors and 418 family participants-which includes both co-survivors and bereaved family members. From these studies findings and participant data we identified 5 major analytical themes: (1) When the crisis begins we must respond; (2) Anguish from uncertainty, we need to understand; (3) Partnering in care, we have much to offer; (4) The crisis surrounding the victim, ignore us, the family, no longer; (5) Our family's emergency is not over, now is when we need help the most. Confidence in the evidence statements are provided along with our review findings.DiscussionThe family experience of cardiac arrest care is often chaotic, distressing, complex and the aftereffects are long-lasting. Patient and family experiences could be improved for many people. High certainty family care needs identified in this review include rapid recognition and response, improved information sharing, more effective communication, supported presence and participation, or supported absence, and psychological aftercare.Copyright © 2023 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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