No Visitors: Family Perceptions of Separation From Hospitalized Loved Ones

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Patient experience
• Pandemic impact

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic visitor restrictions significantly impacted patients and families.
• Policies included closures, masking, and visiting limitations in acute and long-term care.
• Limited understanding of the effects of these healthcare system visiting restrictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather perceptions of individuals separated from loved ones during COVID-19 acute care hospitalizations.
• To understand the lived experiences of family separation during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with individuals separated from hospitalized family members.
• Interviews conducted in person, via telephone, or virtually.
• Colaizzi method used for thematic analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

• Eleven interviews completed, all participants were female and from Texas.
• Key themes identified: advocacy, communication, emotional upheaval, human factors, isolation, and abandonment.
• Pilot project findings highlight significant challenges faced by families.

Conclusions:

• Study findings align with previous research on patient and family experiences.
• Recommendations include PPE for visitors, revised visitation policies for incapacitated patients, and enhanced communication aids.
• Focus on improving the patient and family experience during future health crises.