To review qualitative studies on the experience of sudden cardiac arrest survival from the perspective of both survivors and their key supporters, including family/close friends. A seven-step meta-ethnography and synthesis of qualitative evidence was undertaken, informed by the Meta-Ethnography Reporting Guidelines (eMERGe). Four major databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO; January 1995-January 2022, updated July 2023) for qualitative studies exploring survivors’ and/or key supporters’ experiences of cardiac arrest survival. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation – Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) were applied to evaluate the overall confidence in research findings. Constructs were identified from each paper, informing theme and sub-theme development. From 15,917 unique titles/abstracts and 196 full-text articles, 32 met the inclusion criteria. Three themes captured the survivors’ experiences: 1) Making sense of my cardiac arrest; 2) Learning to trust my body and mind; and 3) Re-evaluating my life. A further three themes reflected key supporters’ experiences: 1) Emotional turmoil; 2) Becoming a carer: same person but different me; and 3) Engaging with a new and unknown world. However, limited data and some methodological weaknesses in included studies reduced confidence in several themes. The findings were conceived within the overarching concept of ‘negotiating a new normal’. The enduring psychosocial and physical sequelae of cardiac arrest survival substantially impacts the lives of survivors and their key supporters, requiring negotiation of their ‘new normality’. The need for sense-making, physical and psychological recovery, and the new roles for key supporters should be strong considerations in the development of future interventions.

中文翻译：

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心脏骤停幸存者及其主要支持者在心脏骤停后的经历：系统回顾和元人种学

从幸存者及其主要支持者（包括家人/亲密朋友）的角度回顾关于心脏骤停生存经历的定性研究。在元民族志报告指南（eMERGe）的指导下，进行了七步元民族志和定性证据的综合。检索了四个主要数据库（Medline、EMBASE、CINAHL、PsycINFO；1995 年 1 月至 2022 年 1 月，2023 年 7 月更新），以进行定性研究，探索幸存者和/或主要支持者的心脏骤停生存经历。采用批判性评估技能计划清单和建议评估、制定和评估分级——定性研究审查证据的置信度 (GRADE-CERQual) 来评估研究结果的整体置信度。从每篇论文中确定了结构，为主题和子主题的发展提供信息。从 15,917 篇独特的标题/摘要和 196 篇全文文章中，有 32 篇符合纳入标准。三个主题捕捉了幸存者的经历：1）理解我的心脏骤停； 2）学会相信自己的身体和思想； 3）重新评估我的生活。另外三个主题反映了主要支持者的经历：1）情绪动荡； 2）成为照顾者：同一个人，不同的我； 3）进入一个新的未知世界。然而，有限的数据和纳入研究中的一些方法学缺陷降低了对几个主题的信心。这些发现是在“谈判新常态”的总体概念下构思的。心脏骤停生存带来的持久的社会心理和身体后遗症严重影响幸存者及其主要支持者的生活，需要对他们的“新常态”进行谈判。在制定未来干预措施时，应重点考虑意义建构、身体和心理恢复以及关键支持者的新角色的需要。