Managing intensive supports. The attitudes of the health care workers of five Italian Hospitals to institution of CPR and admission to the ICU.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the paper was to examine the attitudes of the health care workers (HCW) of five Italian Hospitals towards intensive supports, in the hypothesis that a large involvement could help to solve the problems of a more adequate management of vital supports.


METHODS



METHODS
Hospital HCWs' attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and ICU admission were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
five Italian Hospitals.


METHODS
all the doctors (MD) and nurses (RN), except those working in obstetrics and in paediatrics.


METHODS
a questionnaire was offered to all eligible participants (4903 HCW) and 2466 analysable files (50.3%) were obtained.


RESULTS
In spite of a great variation in responses among health care givers, the majority of answers is almost in line with current professional and bioethical documents, at both international and national level. This, also when the proposed solution is not clearly recognised by the Italian laws. The statistically significant differences depend on profession (RN/MD), on working area and experiential working characteristics. A strict minority of workers would trust their colleagues in case of hypothetical personal critical illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm both the importance of communication among HCW, in order to reach the best decision for every patient, and the great need of continuous educational programs which could compensate for lack of experience and help to create/maintain a strong bioethical and patient-oriented attitude.
Zamperetti
N
N
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy. zamperetti.n@medicivi.org
Mazzon
D
D
Orsi
L
L
Barneschi
M G
MG
Marsili
M
M
Rossi
C
C
Primadei
M
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007558:Italy; D008021:Life Support Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires