The Implications of Family Members’ Absence from Hospital Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Nurses’ Perceptions

Tânia Sofia Pereira Correia, Maria Manuela F. P. S. Martins, Fernando F. Barroso, Lara G. Pinho, César Fonseca, Olga Valentim and Manuel Lopes
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Tânia Sofia Pereira Correia: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto (UP), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Maria Manuela F. P. S. Martins: CINTESIS (Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde)—NursID (Innovation & Development in Nursing), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Fernando F. Barroso: Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal, 2910-446 Setúbal, Portugal
Lara G. Pinho: Nursing Department, Universidade de Évora, 7000-811 Évora, Portugal
César Fonseca: Nursing Department, Universidade de Évora, 7000-811 Évora, Portugal
Olga Valentim: CINTESIS (Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde)—NursID (Innovation & Development in Nursing), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Manuel Lopes: Nursing Department, Universidade de Évora, 7000-811 Évora, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several measures were taken to prevent the transmission of infection in the hospital environment, including the restriction of visits. Little is known about the consequences of these directives, but it is expected that they will have various implications. Thus, this study aimed to understand the consequences of measures to restrict visits to hospitalized individuals. Methods: A qualitative interpretive study was conducted through semistructured interviews with 10 nurses chosen by convenience. Content analysis was performed using Atlas.ti software, version 22 (Berlin, Germany). Results: Twenty-two categories and eight subcategories were identified and grouped according to their scope: implications for the patient, implications for the family, and implications for care practice. Conclusions: The identified categories of implications of restricting hospital visits (implications for patients, relatives, and care practices) are incomparably more negative than positive and have a strong potential to cause safety events in the short to long term, also jeopardizing the quality of care. There is the risk of stagnation and even setback due to this removal of families from the hospital environment, not only in terms of safety and quality of care but also with regard to person- and family-centered care.

Keywords: family nursing; family-centered care; hospitalization; COVID-19; patient safety; safety management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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