Perception of success of cardiopulmonary resucitation and the influence of television: Miracle or reality

Abstract

In general wards, emergency rooms and critical units, doctors, patients and families are faced with situations in which we must decide whether or not to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). For patients and families to be able to participate in medical decisions they should be fully informed about what CPR involves, the success rate and possible risks and side effects. The patients’ preferences to initiate CPR relate to the perception of the likelihood of success of the procedure; if they understand the real rate of success they are far less likely to request it. Multiple studies have shown that the lay public has little knowledge of the results of CPR and overestimate success. And this is based largely on the experience of the depiction of CPR in the media. The aim is to make a current review about the perceived success of CPR, and the influence of the representation of cardiorespiratory arrest in television fiction.