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Critical care patients' perceptions of visits
1School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania.
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Patient preferences for hospital visits vary. Critically ill patients in coronary care units (CCU) and surgical intensive care units (SICU) have different needs regarding visit frequency, length, and timing, impacting their recovery.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Patient Experience
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Previous research on hospital visiting focused on nurses' and families' viewpoints.
- Limited understanding exists regarding intensive care unit (ICU) patients' preferences for visits.
- Comparisons of visit preferences between coronary care unit (CCU) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore patient preferences for hospital visits and their evaluations of these visits.
- To compare visit preferences between CCU and SICU patients.
- To examine relationships between patient characteristics, illness severity, and visit preferences.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study was conducted with 50 CCU patients and 50 SICU patients.
- Data collected included patient preferences for visit length and frequency.
- Personal and illness characteristics were assessed to identify correlations with visit preferences and perceived impact.
Main Results:
- Age influenced visit length preferences, especially in CCU patients.
- Illness severity correlated positively with the desired number of visitors, particularly in SICU patients.
- SICU patients were more likely to prefer visits at any time compared to CCU patients.
Conclusions:
- Patient preferences for hospital visits are diverse and influenced by age and illness severity.
- Tailoring visiting policies to individual patient needs in CCU and SICU settings is recommended.
- Most patients perceived visits as beneficial and not burdensome, highlighting the importance of social support.