title: Communication with survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communication with survivors of severe motor vehicle crashes is challenging for emergency physicians. The appropriate timing of death notification to survivors of severe motor vehicle crashes is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine communication preferences among survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional survey study, eligible participants included adult survivors of motor vehicle crashes in which there was a death, between 2005 and 2009. Participants were interviewed and responses to 30 questions about communication were recorded verbatim. Responses were coded and grouped for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 26 eligible participants, 21 consented to participate (81% participation rate). Survivors' relationship to the deceased included spouse/significant other (33%), friend (24%), child (5%) and no relationship (38%). Survivors had been notified of the death in the prehospital setting (14%), in the emergency department (43%), or later in the inpatient setting (43%). Survivors were notified of the death by family members (43%), indirect communication (14%), police (10%), prehospital provider (10%), or friend (10%). Most participants (88%) had to ask directly to obtain information about the status of others in the crash. Participants demonstrated variable opinions about the ideal time of death notification: some recommended immediately (24%), in the emergency department (24%), in the inpatient setting (29%), or it depends on the circumstances (24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survivors of motor vehicles crashes are notified of fatalities most commonly by family members, most commonly in the hospital setting. Recommendations from survivors about the appropriate timing and setting for death notification varied significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3045 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA. cmarco2@aol.com
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Lindsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wetzel
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003643:Death; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D057240:Patient Preference; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult