Diversity of Research in Health Journal (Mar 2023)
Experiences of Survivors and Families Following a Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A Metasummary
Abstract
Sudden cardiac arrest, abrupt cardiovascular collapse with loss of vital signs, is a leading cause of death. The uptake of emerging evidence, however, optimizes survival rates. For those who survive, and their family members, life can involve enduring physical, mental, cognitive, and social alterations which warrant evidence-informed interventions by health and social service providers. The study purpose was to aggregate published qualitative evidence to yield an understanding of survivors' and family members' life experiences following hospital discharge after a cardiac arrest. The study design, metasummary, was suitable for describing survivors’ and their family members’ experiences following the paradigm life-altering cardiac event. Nineteen primary studies, with a population of 288 adults, met the inclusion criteria. Extraction, abstraction, and aggregation of findings yielded eight topical categories labelled: acknowledging life has changed; confronting mortality; regaining former life; interacting within the family, interacting within the broader social context; involving healthcare providers; evolving health status; and enacting a new life. These topical categories combine to represent two overarching themes - seeking wholeness and being connected. Survivorship relies on pragmatic support from and connection with family, friends, peers, and healthcare providers to address the complexity of challenges following cardiac arrest. Amid these challenges, the early development of individualized recovery plans have the potential to promote continuous and comprehensive care for survivors and families. Further, strengthening interprofessional service planning and delivery, integrating innovative technologies, and tailoring comprehensive care based on individual needs of both survivors and their family has the potential to address wellbeing following cardiac arrest.
