Variation in communication and family visiting policies in intensive care within and between countries during the Covid-19 pandemic: The COVISIT international survey.
Tabah, Alexis Elhadi, Muhammed Ballard, Emma Cortegiani, Andrea Cecconi, Maurizio Unoki, Takeshi Galarza, LaurÄ… Rosa, Regis Goulart Barbier, Francois Azoulay, Elie
Tabah, Alexis
Elhadi, Muhammed
Ballard, Emma
Cortegiani, Andrea
Cecconi, Maurizio
Unoki, Takeshi
Galarza, LaurÄ…
Rosa, Regis Goulart
Barbier, Francois
Azoulay, Elie
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2022-05-04
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Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care units (ICU) introduced restrictions to in-person family visiting to safeguard patients, healthcare personnel, and visitors.
Methods: We conducted a web-based survey (March-July 2021) investigating ICU visiting practices before the pandemic, at peak COVID-19 ICU admissions, and at the time of survey response. We sought data on visiting policies and communication modes including use of virtual visiting (videoconferencing).
Results: We obtained 667 valid responses representing ICUs in all continents. Before the pandemic, 20% (106/525) had unrestricted visiting hours; 6% (30/525) did not allow in-person visiting. At peak, 84% (558/667) did not allow in-person visiting for patients with COVID-19; 66% for patients without COVID-19. This proportion had decreased to 55% (369/667) at time of survey reporting. A government mandate to restrict hospital visiting was reported by 53% (354/646). Most ICUs (55%, 353/615) used regular telephone updates; 50% (306/667) used telephone for formal meetings and discussions regarding prognosis or end-of-life. Virtual visiting was available in 63% (418/667) at time of survey.
Conclusions: Highly restrictive visiting policies were introduced at the initial pandemic peaks, were subsequently liberalized, but without returning to pre-pandemic practices. Telephone became the primary communication mode in most ICUs, supplemented with virtual visits.
Citation
Tabah A, Elhadi M, Ballard E, Cortegiani A, Cecconi M, Unoki T, Galarza L, Rosa RG, Barbier F, Azoulay E, Laupland KB, Kai NSY, Ostermann M, Francois G, De Waele JJ, Fiest K, Spronk P, Benbenishty J, Pellegrini M, Rose L; COVISIT contributors. Variation in communication and family visiting policies in intensive care within and between countries during the Covid-19 pandemic: The COVISIT international survey. J Crit Care. 2022 Oct;71:154050. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2022.154050. Epub 2022 May 4
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