Gasping in Dying Children: Health Care Professionals' Feelings and Knowledge.

Abstract

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To assess the feelings and knowledge of health care professionals (HCPs) about gasping in dying patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A 9-item questionnaire addressed to 488 HCPs (physicians, nurses, and nursing assistants) of 2 NICUs and 2 PICUs. Questions were about HCPs' feelings when confronted with gasping, their knowledge, and their opinions on what to tell family members. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Responses were obtained from 248 staff members. Of the respondents, 43% felt that gasping was painful to the patient and most felt that witnessing gasps was distressing for the parents, and 77% reported being distressed by witnessing gasps. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Efforts are needed to educate HCPs about the physiology of gasping, to help them to cope with gasping, and to give better support to parents.