Resuscitation decisions in Irish long-stay units.
BACKGROUND
Little is known of how cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decisions are made in Irish long-term care settings.


OBJECTIVE
To examine how CPR decisions are made in Irish long-stay units and those factors associated with use or non-use of CPR.


METHODS
We surveyed each public long-stay unit and a random sample of private nursing homes across the country.


RESULTS
Of the 84 long-stay units that responded (response rate 58%), basic CPR had been performed in 32% and advanced CPR (including defibrillation) in 10%. Only 13% of the units had a written CPR policy. Units performing CPR (N = 35) were closer to an acute hospital, more likely to have short-term residents and more likely to have a CPR policy (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between public and private units.


CONCLUSIONS
The widely disparate approaches to CPR in different Irish long-stay units suggest the need for national guidelines on this issue.
O'Brien
M
M
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Galway University Hospitals, Ireland.
O'Keeffe
S T
ST
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016414:Resuscitation Orders