title: Assessment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation practices in emergency departments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in Lebanon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims in Lebanon is low. A national policy on resuscitation practice is lacking. This survey explored the practices of emergency physicians related to the resuscitation of OHCA victims in Lebanon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 705 physicians working in emergency departments (EDs) was recruited and surveyed using the LimeSurvey software (Carsten Schmitz, Germany). Seventy-five participants responded, yielding 10.64% response rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important factors in the participants' decision to initiate or continue resuscitation were presence of pulse on arrival (93.2%), underlying cardiac rhythm (93.1%), the physician's ethical duty to resuscitate (93.2%), transport time to the ED (89%), and down time (84.9%). The participants were optimistic regarding the survival of OHCA victims (58.1% reporting > 10% survival) and reported frequent resuscitation attempts in medically futile situations. The most frequently reported challenges during resuscitation decisions were related to pressure or presence of victim's family (38.8%) and lack of policy (30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our setting, physicians often rely on well-established criteria for initiating/continuing resuscitation; however, their decisions are also influenced by cultural factors such as victim's family wishes. The findings support the need for a national policy on resuscitation of OHCA victims.
authors: Department of Nursing, Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors: Samar
authors: S
authors: Noureddine
authors: Department of Nursing, Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors: Tamar
authors: T
authors: Avedissian
authors: Division of Cardiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors: Hussain
authors: H
authors: Isma'eel
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors: Mazen J
authors: MJ
authors: El Sayed
keywords: Emergency department; Lebanon; out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; practices; resuscitation