Grief reactions by family members of persons who have died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest

Every year, thousands of people suffer sudden unexpected cardiac arrest in or outside of hospital. Most cardiac arrests outside hospital occur at home and are witnessed by family members in two out of three cases. In Sweden, the survival rate is around 11 percent in cardiac arrest outside hospital and 32 percent in hospital. There are currently few studies concerning the situation of family members after a person has died as a result of a cardiac arrest.

This project investigates family members’ grief reactions, their own health and their experiences. Data will be collected through surveys and interviews.

The aim of the project is to gain increased knowledge about family members’ experiences after a person has died as a result of a sudden unexpected cardiac arrest. The research project concerns adult family members (aged 18 years or older) of a person who has died as a result of a sudden unexpected cardiac arrest. The deceased must also have been 18 years or older when the cardiac arrest occurred. The goal of the project is to subsequently develop support for family members based on the needs that were experienced after bereavement.