Themes and variations: An exploratory international investigation into resuscitation decision-making.

Background: Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions are made in hospitals throughout the globe. International variation in clinicians' perception of DNACPR decision-making and implementation and the factors influencing such variation has not previously been explored.

Methods: A questionnaire asking how DNACPR decisions are made, communicated and perceived in their country was composed: it consisted of seven closed-answer and four open-answer questions.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with DNACPR orders in an acute hospital; an observational study.

Aims: To establish the characteristics and outcomes of patients with Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) orders; to assess whether particular patient characteristics are associated with discussing resuscitation orders with patients.

Methods: Retrospective case note analysis from an acute hospital in 2009 was performed on: all in-hospital deaths; all patients who had carbon-copies of their DNACPR forms returned to the resuscitation department and a sample of age-matched discharged patients without known DNACPR order forms. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to test the significance of the associations and calculate odds ratios.