Objective:

Explore programs aimed at the participation of family members in situations of CRP in adults in the out-of-hospital setting.

Method:

Narrative review of the scientific literature, in primary databases (Scielo, PubMed, Cuiden and Cochrane Plus and CINAHL), using DeCS and MeSH structured language, from 2005 to 2020, in Spanish and English. 23 studies are obtained.

Results:

Studies show that mourning for family members of a cardiorespiratory arrest in the out-of-hospital setting is less traumatic if they are allowed to be present. Staying with the victim must be ensured unless the professional considers that it is harmful. The advantages of the presence of family members are as much for the family member as for the healthcare team. Despite the existence of a social and ethical need in accordance with the principle of patient autonomy for the implementation of these programs, they hardly exist and this is usually due to the resistance generated by the professionals or managers themselves.

Conclusions:

In the case of cardiorespiratory arrest in adults in the out-of-hospital setting, the main international scientific societies recommend the implementation of programs for the presence of family members, which makes it a necessity. The scientific literature demonstrates more advantages than disadvantages, fundamentally in terms of better grief in family members and greater satisfaction and less possibility of legal claims in health professionals, promoting the humanization of care that would translate into lower healthcare costs in the prevalence of grief pathological.

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