title: Post cardiac arrest care and follow-up in Sweden - a national web-survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent decades have shown major improvements in survival rates after cardiac arrest. However, few interventions have been tested in order to improve the care for survivors and their family members. In many countries, including Sweden, national guidelines for post cardiac arrest care and follow-up programs are not available and current practice has not previously been investigated. The aim of this survey was therefore to describe current post cardiac arrest care and follow-up in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  An internet based questionnaire was sent to the resuscitation coordinators at all Swedish emergency hospitals (n = 74) and 59 answers were received. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics and free text responses were analysed using manifest content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half of the hospitals in Sweden (n = 27, 46 %) have local guidelines for post cardiac arrest care and follow-up. However, 39 % of them reported that these guidelines were not always applied. The most common routine is a follow-up visit at a cardiac reception unit. If the need for neurological or psychological support are discovered the routines are not explicit. In addition, family members are not always included in the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although efforts are already made to improve post cardiac arrest care and follow-up, many hospitals need to focus more on this part of cardiac arrest treatment. In addition, evidence-based national guidelines will have to be developed and implemented in order to achieve a more uniform care and follow-up for survivors and their family members. This national survey highlights this need, and might be helpful in the implementation of such guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Kalmar County Hospital, SE-39185 Kalmar, Sweden ; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden ; Kalmar Maritime Academy, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Israelsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Division of Neurology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden ; Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skane University Hospital, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lilja
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare and the Centre for Prehospital Research, University of Borås, SE-50190 Borås, Sweden ; Division of Emergency Medical Services, Kalmar County Hospital, SE-39185 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.affiliation: Information School, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 211 Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 4DP England ; eHealth Institute, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevenson-Ågren
authors.affiliation: Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden ; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Årestedt
keywords: Family members; Follow-up; Guidelines; Heart arrest; Quality of life; Survivors