Consideration of advance directives by emergency physicians in patients with cardiac arrest: a clinical vignettes-based qualitative study

Bibliographic Details
Title: Consideration of advance directives by emergency physicians in patients with cardiac arrest: a clinical vignettes-based qualitative study
Authors: Pierre-Élie Ménégaux, Aline Chassagne, Abdo Khoury, Tania Marx
Source: International Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2024)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid
Subject Terms: Cardiac arrest, Emergency medical services, Advance directive, Do-not-attempt-cardiopulmonary-resuscitation orders, Ethics, Decision-making, Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid, RC86-88.9
More Details: Abstract Background Emergency medical services (EMS) must incorporate the patient’s physiologic state and end-of-life wishes when determining whether to initiate and/or continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aims to describe and analyze the use of advance directives (ADs) in CPR by emergency physicians (EPs). Methods A qualitative approach using semi-directed interviews was conducted. EPs were confronted with three fictitious clinical situations where they would have to take under their care a young patient with no previous history or treatment, presenting with a cardiac arrest and a do not attempt CPR (DNACPR) order. Results Twenty EPs, 10 men and 10 women (mean age 39.7 ± SD 11,21), were included either for individual interviews or a focus group. Without the AD, EPs all declared that they would have started CPR. With the AD, 6 physicians accepted ADs and did nothing, 5 physicians performed a time-limited trial to allow time for collegial discussion, and 9 physicians rejected ADs alone and resuscitated. Inductive analysis of the verbatims identified 4 themes (reflection, assessment of the medical situation, determining the validity of ADs, cognitive dissonance) and the opposability of ADs to medical decisions was the point of divergence within the focus group. Conclusion This difference seems to be explained by different thought processes, notably concerning two steps: determining the validity of ADs, and the cognitive dissonance induced by the situation. EPs seem to respect ADs in cardiac arrest when determining the validity of ADs can be quick and the physician understands why the AD was written.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1865-1380
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1865-1380
DOI: 10.1186/s12245-024-00763-6
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/de8eaec3d8a34eaf87a9719b758599e7
Accession Number: edsdoj.8eaec3d8a34eaf87a9719b758599e7
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Full text is not displayed to guests.
More Details
ISSN:18651380
DOI:10.1186/s12245-024-00763-6
Published in:International Journal of Emergency Medicine
Language:English