Search
Subscribe to daily UMEM Pearls (FREE!) via:
Parental presence during pediatric resuscitation is supported by family-centered care principles and AHA guidelines, yet implementation remains inconsistent due to divided provider attitudes and a lack of institutional policies.
Methods: Qualitative exploratory descriptive study across three Iranian pediatric hospitals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 resuscitation team members (nurses and physicians) and 20 parents who experienced their child's resuscitation. Thematic analysis identified key patterns. Of 16 resuscitated children, 87.5% died.
Conclusions: Parental presence is not a binary choice but requires preparation, support, and shared decision-making. The authors recommend formal institutional policies, staff simulation training, designated family support persons, and structured pre-briefing and debriefing protocols.
Additional Information
Key Findings — Two Main Themes:
1. Double-edged sword of parental presence (provider perspective)
Reluctance: Providers cited performance pressure, fear of misinterpretation, procedural disruption from emotionally overwhelmed parents, staffing shortages, and concern about psychological harm to families.
Permission: Presence was allowed case-by-case when parents were calm, familiar with the child's condition, or when survival was unlikely — framed as ethically necessary for closure.
2. Emotional weight of parents' decision to be present (parent perspective)
Choosing presence: Most parents viewed being present as a moral duty — to protect, ensure adequate care, and say goodbye. Exclusion generated mistrust and anxiety.
Indecision: Some parents who witnessed resuscitation later experienced intrusive traumatic memories; those who chose absence experienced lasting regret. Both choices carried enduring psychological consequences.
References
Ghavi A, Hassankhani H, Gill FJ. Decision-making for parental presence in pediatric resuscitation: A qualitative study of parents' and resuscitation team members' experiences and perceptions. J Child Health Care. 2026 Feb 7:13674935261422948. doi: 10.1177/13674935261422948. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41653410.