Need for compassion in prehospital and emergency care: a qualitative study on bus crash survivors' experiences.

AIM: To explore the survivors' experiences after a major bus crash.

BACKGROUND

Survivors' experiences of emergency care after transportation related major incidents are relatively unexplored, with research involving survivors mainly focused on pathological aspects or effects of crisis support.

METHODS

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 54 out of 56 surviving passengers 5 years after a bus crash in Sweden. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Prehospital discomfort, lack of compassionate care, dissatisfaction with crisis support and satisfactory initial care and support are the categories. Lack of compassion in emergency departments was identified as a main finding. Lack of compassion caused distress among survivors and various needs for support were not met. Survivors' desire to be with their fellow survivors the day of the crash was not facilitated after arriving at emergency departments.

CONCLUSIONS

Connectedness among survivors ought to be promoted upon arrival at emergency departments. There is a need for emergency department professionals to be sufficiently educated in compassionate care.