The impact of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation video on reducing surrogates' anxiety: A pilot randomized controlled trial

PurposeTo test the primary hypothesis that a CPR video will reduce ICU patients' surrogates' anxiety when deciding code status, as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAM-A) Scale, as compared to the no video group.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective randomized control trial. Twenty-seven ICU patients' surrogates were enrolled in the study after receiving an ICU team-led code status discussion. After the enrollment, twelve surrogates were randomized to the video group and fifteen to the no video group. The primary outcome of anxiety was quantified using the HAM-A Scale. Demographic information, clinical data, and patients' provenance information (Home vs. Not Home) were collected. The patients' severity of illness was calculated using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score.ResultsThe HAM-A score in the video group was 5.65 points lower than in the no video group ([β = −5.65, 95% CI −11.12 −0.18] P = 0.04). The statistically significant difference was maintained when adjusting for patients' SOFA Score and patients' provenance (P = 0.03).ConclusionCPR video used to supplement ICU team-led code status discussions reduced surrogates' anxiety, as compared to no video. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03630965.