Experiences of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivors Regarding Prognostication and Advance Care Planning

Abstract

We sought to better understand SCA survivors' beliefs about complex issues that arise in the immediate post-arrest period and explore advance care planning. Specifically, we wished to explore four themes: (1) patient and family perception of medical providers' prognostication in the immediate post-arrest phase; (2) patient definitions of death; (3) use of advance directives (ADs); and (4) perceptions of health and organ donation.