Graduate Research School

Sonya Rogal

Thesis

In-hospital cardiac arrest in Western Australia: The effect of policy and practice on outcomes

Summary

This study describes the characteristics of in-hospital cardiac arrest occurring in Perth metropolitan hospitals between 2004-2008 and aims to identify the predictors of survival associated with these cardiac arrests. Furthermore, the policy and practice of resuscitation management in Western Australia is described

Why my research is important

There is limited research in the field of in-hospital cardiac arrest, particularly regarding policy and practice of CPR. Furthermore, the body of evidence regarding the use of therapeutic hypothermia is limited - additional work in this area will improve precision and standardisation of this therapy. This study will make a substantial and original contribution to scholarship through the investigation of the effect of policy and practice on outcomes from in-hospital cardiac arrest in Western Australia. A unique perspective will be provided because a study of IHCA has not been undertaken in this context. To date, most of the research in this field has been conducted in the United States of America and Europe within health systems that are different to the system used in Australia. Hence, the ability to draw comparisons is limited and provides further argument for the conduct of research studies that address IHCA in the Australian health care system.

Funding

• Olive Anstey Postgraduate Nursing Scholarship awarded in January 2008