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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 1/2021

01-12-2021 | Care | Research

Restricted visitation policies in acute care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Authors: Stephana J. Moss, Karla D. Krewulak, Henry T. Stelfox, Sofia B. Ahmed, Melanie C. Anglin, Sean M. Bagshaw, Karen E. A. Burns, Deborah J. Cook, Christopher J. Doig, Alison Fox-Robichaud, Robert Fowler, Laura Hernández, Michelle E. Kho, Maia Kredentser, Kira Makuk, Srinivas Murthy, Daniel J. Niven, Kendiss Olafson, Ken Kuljit S. Parhar, Scott B. Patten, Oleksa G. Rewa, Bram Rochwerg, Bonnie Sept, Andrea Soo, Krista Spence, Sean Spence, Sharon Straus, Andrew West, Jeanna Parsons Leigh, Kirsten M. Fiest

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Restricted visitation policies in acute care settings because of the COVID-19 pandemic have negative consequences. The objective of this scoping review is to identify impacts of restricted visitation policies in acute care settings, and describe perspectives and mitigation approaches among patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Healthstar, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials on January 01/2021, unrestricted, for published primary research records reporting any study design. We included secondary (e.g., reviews) and non-research records (e.g., commentaries), and performed manual searches in web-based resources. We excluded records that did not report primary data. Two reviewers independently abstracted data in duplicate.

Results

Of 7810 citations, we included 155 records. Sixty-six records (43%) were primary research; 29 (44%) case reports or case series, and 26 (39%) cohort studies; 21 (14%) were literature reviews and 8 (5%) were expert recommendations; 54 (35%) were commentary, editorial, or opinion pieces. Restricted visitation policies impacted coping and daily function (n = 31, 20%) and mental health outcomes (n = 29, 19%) of patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Participants described a need for coping and support (n = 107, 69%), connection and communication (n = 107, 69%), and awareness of state of well-being (n = 101, 65%). Eighty-seven approaches to mitigate impact of restricted visitation were identified, targeting families (n = 61, 70%), patients (n = 51, 59%), and healthcare professionals (n = 40, 46%).

Conclusions

Patients, families, and healthcare professionals were impacted by restricted visitation polices in acute care settings during COVID-19. The consequences of this approach on patients and families are understudied and warrant evaluation of approaches to mitigate their impact. Future pandemic policy development should include the perspectives of patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Trial registration: The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020221662) and a protocol peer-reviewed prior to data extraction.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Restricted visitation policies in acute care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review
Authors
Stephana J. Moss
Karla D. Krewulak
Henry T. Stelfox
Sofia B. Ahmed
Melanie C. Anglin
Sean M. Bagshaw
Karen E. A. Burns
Deborah J. Cook
Christopher J. Doig
Alison Fox-Robichaud
Robert Fowler
Laura Hernández
Michelle E. Kho
Maia Kredentser
Kira Makuk
Srinivas Murthy
Daniel J. Niven
Kendiss Olafson
Ken Kuljit S. Parhar
Scott B. Patten
Oleksa G. Rewa
Bram Rochwerg
Bonnie Sept
Andrea Soo
Krista Spence
Sean Spence
Sharon Straus
Andrew West
Jeanna Parsons Leigh
Kirsten M. Fiest
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Care
COVID-19
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03763-7

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