Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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The primary objective of this study was to assess variables that residency applicants ranked as influential in making residency choices. The secondary objective was to determine if residents were satisfied with their residency choices. ⋯ The most influential factors in residency choice are institutional and residency director reputation and hospital facilities. Personal issues, such as recreational opportunities and spousal opinion, are also important, but are less influential. Significant geographic differences affecting residency choices exist, as do minor gender differences. A majority of residents were highly satisfied overall with their residency choices.
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The objective was to assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with witnessing unsuccessful out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a family member. ⋯ Witnessing a failed CPR attempt of a loved one in an out-of-hospital location may be associated with displaying symptoms of PTSD in the early term of the bereavement period. While preliminary, these data suggest that the relationship exists even after controlling for other potential factors that may also affect the propensity for displaying such symptoms, such as the suddenness and location of the patient's cardiac arrest.
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Comparative Study
Ethical issues of cardiopulmonary resuscitation: comparison of emergency physician practices from 1995 to 2007.
The objectives were to determine current practice among emergency physicians (EPs) regarding the initiation and termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitative (CPR) efforts and to compare responses to those from a similar study performed in 1996. ⋯ Most EPs attempt to resuscitate patients in cardiopulmonary arrest regardless of poor outcomes, except in cases where a legal advance directive is available. Many EPs' decisions regarding resuscitation are based on concerns of litigation and criticism, rather than professional judgment of medical benefit. Most results did not differ significantly from the previous study of 1995, although more physicians honor legal advance directives than previously noted.