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Presence of relatives during testing for brain stem death: questionnaire study

BMJ 2000; 321 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.321.7275.1505 (Published 16 December 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;321:1505

Data supplement

  • Appendix 1

    Appendix 2
     

    Posted as supplied by author

    Appendix 1 Consultant Questionnaire

      Number of responses=116/147 (79%)
       
      1.Do you have a written unit policy regarding the presence of relatives during brain stem death tests?
       
       
       
      		yes
       
       
      		no
       
       
      		don't know
       
      If yes: What are the main points?
       
       
       
      The response to this question have been omitted as it is clear from the open response that this question is ambiguous.
       
      2.Do you ask relatives if they wish to be present during brain stem death testing of the patient?
       
       
       
      		yes, routinely
      7% (8)
       
       
      		yes, occasionally
      12% (14)
       
       
      		no, but I might in the future
      34% (40)
       
       
      		no, and I don=t intend to in the future
      46% (53)
       no response
      1% (1)
       
      3.Have you been asked by relatives if they could be present during brain stem death testing?
       
       
       
      		no, never
      69% (80)
       
       
      		yes, occasionally
      29% (34)
       
       
      		yes, frequently
      1% (1)
        no response
      1% (1)
       
      4.Have you allowed relatives to be present during brain stem death testing?
       
       
       
      		yes,
      6% (7)
       
       
      		yes, frequently
      3% (4)
       
       
      		yes, occasionally
      22% (26)
       
       
      		no, but I would consider this in future
      38% (44)
       
       
      		no, and I would not consider this in future
      27% (31)
       no response
      3% (4)
       
       If yes: In your opinion, how helpful or unhelpful was this for the relatives in general?
       
       
       
      		definitely helpful
      22% (8)
       
       
      		mostly helpful
      41% (15)
       
       
      		mostly unhelpful
      14% (5)
       
       
      		definitely unhelpful
      0
       
       
      		don't know
      19% (7)
        no response
      5% (2)
       
       Please explain your answer:
       
      5.In your opinion, what problems could be associated with the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing? (Please feel free to tick more than 1 box)
       
       
       
      		dealing with relatives= distress
      72% (84)
       
       
      		relatives may physically interfere with the testing
      23% (27)
       
       
      		relatives may verbally interfere with the testing
      30% (35)
       
       
      		spinal reflexes may occur
      84% (97)
       
       
      		extra nurse required to provide support for the relatives
      47% (54)
       
       
      		potential legal consequences
      15% (17)
       
       
      		dealing with your own discomfort
      21% (24)
       
       
      		none
      2% (2)
       
       
      		other (please specify):
       
       Please feel free to elaborate on the above points:
       
      6.In your opinion, what benefits could be associated with the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing?(Please feel free to tick more than 1 box)
       
       
      		relatives may be more able to accept that the patient has died
      53% (61)
       
       
      		relatives may gain comfort from being present
      45% (52)
       
       
      		none
      31% (36)
       
       
      		other (please specify):
       
       Please feel free to elaborate on the above points:
       
      7.Do you think that the presence of relatives would affect your performance of brain stem death tests?
       
       
      		yes, it would hinder my performance
      16% (18)
       
       
      		yes, it would help my performance
      0
       
       
      		no, it would not affect my performance
      81% (94)
        no response
      3% (4)
       
       Please explain your answer:
       
      8.Would your view about the presence of relatives be influenced if the patient was a child?
       
       
       
      		I would be more likely to allow relatives to be present if the patient was a child
      23% (27)
       
       
      		I would be less likely to allow relatives to be present if the patient was a child
      4% (5)
       
       
      		No, it would not make a difference
      70% (81)
        no response
      3% (3)
       
        Please explain your answer:
       
      9.Would your attitude be influenced if appropriate support services for relatives were in place?
       
       
       
      		I would definitely be more willing to allow relatives to be present
      14% (16)
       
       
      		I would probably be more willing to allow relatives to be present
      16% (19)
       
       
      		No, it wouldnot make a difference
      65% (75)
        no response
      5% (6)
       
       What support do you think relatives should have?
       
      10.Do you think that the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing should be encouraged or discouraged?
       
       
       
      		I think the presence of relatives should be encouraged
       
       
      		I think the presence of relatives should be discouraged
       
       
      		No opinion
       
       The response to this question has been omitted because the open comments indicate that this question is ambiguous.
       
      11.Please write any comments you would like to make:
       

       

      Posted as supplied by author

      Appendix 2 Senior Nurse Questionnaire

        Number of responses=129/167 (77%)
         
        1.Do you have a written unit policy regarding the presence of relatives during brain stem death tests?
         
         
         
        		yes
         
         
        		no
         
         
        		don't know
         
        If yes: What are the main points?
         
        The response to this question have been omitted as it is clear from the open response that this question is ambiguous.
         
        2.Are relatives asked if they wish to be present during brain stem death testing of the patient?
         
         
        		yes, routinely
        2% (2)
         
         
        		yes, occasionally
        21% (27)
         
         
        		no, but I would like this to be considered in the future
        54% (70)
         
         
        		no, and I would not like this to be considered in the future
        21% (27)
         
         
                 		no response
        2% (3)
         
        3.Have you been asked by relatives if they could be present during brain stem death testing?
         
         
         
        		no, never
        57% (73)
         
         
        		yes, occasionally
        42% (54)
         
         
        		yes, frequently
        0
          no response
        2% (2)
         
        4.Have relatives been allowed to be present during brain stem death testing?
         
         
         
        		yes, always
        5% (6)
         
         
        		yes, frequently
        1% (1)
         
         
        		yes, occasionally
        36% (47)
         
         
        		no, but I would like this to be considered in future
        40% (52)
         
         
        		no, and I would not like this to be considered in future
        16% (20)
         
         
        		no response
        2% (3)
         
         If yes: In your opinion, how helpful or unhelpful was this for the relatives in general?
         
         
         
        		definitely helpful
        33% (18)
         
         
        		mostly helpful
        41% (22)
         
         
        		mostly unhelpful
        7% (4)
         
         
        		definitely unhelpful
        2% (1)
         
         
        		don't know
        13% (7)
          no response
        4% (2)
         
         Please explain your answer:
         
        5.In your opinion, what problems could be associated with the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing?(Please feel free to tick more than 1 box)
         
         
         
        		dealing with relatives= distress
        68% (88)
         
         
        		relatives may physically interfere with the testing
        22% (28)
         
         
        		relatives may verbally interfere with the testing
        36% (47)
         
         

        spinal reflexes may occur
        86% (111)
         
         
        		extra nurse required to provide support for the relatives
        36% (47)
         
         
        		potential legal consequences
        16% (21)
         
         
        		dealing with your own discomfort
        24% (31)
         
         
        		none
        2% (2)
         
         
        		other (please specify):
         
         Please feel free to elaborate on the above points:
         
        6.In your opinion, what benefits could be associated with the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing? (Please feel free to tick more than 1 box)
         
         
         
        		relatives may be more able to accept that the patient has died
        84% (108)
         
         
        		relatives may gain comfort from being present
        50% (65)
         
         
        		none
        11% (14)
         
         
        		other (please specify):
         
         Please feel free to elaborate on the above points:
         
         
        7.Do you think that the presence of relatives would affect your performance of brain stem death tests?
         
         
         
        		yes, it would hinder my performance
        6% (8)
         
         
        		yes, it would help my performance
        2% (3)
         
         
        		no, it would not affect my performance
        85% (110)
          no response
        6% (8)
         
         Please explain your answer:
         
         
        8.Would your view about the presence of relatives be influenced if the patient was a child?
         
         
         
        		I would be more likely to allow relatives to be present if the patient was a child
        36% (46)
         
         
        		I would be less likely to allow relatives to be present if the patient was a child
        0
         
         
        		No, it would not make a difference
        61% (79)
          no response
        3% (4)
         
         Please explain your answer:
         
         
        9.Would your attitude be influenced if appropriate support services for relatives were in place?
         
         
         
        		I would definitely be more supportive of the idea of relatives being present
        33% (42)
         
         
        		I would probably be more supportive of the idea of relatives being present
        26% (34)
         
         
        		No, it wouldnot make a difference
        36% (47)
          no response
        5% (6)
         
         What support do you think relatives should have?
         
        10.Do you think that the presence of relatives during brain stem death testing should be encouraged or discouraged?
         
         
         
        		I think the presence of relatives should be encouraged
         
         
        		I think the presence of relatives should be discouraged
         
         
        		No opinion
          no response
         
         The response to this question has been omitted because the open comments indicate that this question is ambiguous.
         
        11.Please write any comments you would like to make:
         

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