J Korean Crit Care Nurs.  2017 Feb;10(1):51-62. 10.0000/jkccn.2017.10.1.51.

Experience of Patients and Families about Flexible Visiting

• Dan SY
• Park SH
• Lee S
• Park HY
• Yi YH

• KMID: 2397695
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkccn.2017.10.1.51

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to understand the essence of experiences of patients and family members during flexible visiting in an intensive care unit (ICU).
METHODS
This is a qualitative study using interviews with open ended questions. We used Colaizzi's method of phenomenological interpretation.
RESULTS
Flexible visiting in the ICU impacted the patients and their families in various ways. The following categories were extracted from the patients' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) the opportunity to feel the presence of the family and 2) the burden of unrestricted visiting. The following categories were extracted from the families' experiences with flexible visiting: 1) psychological comfort by convenience 2) being aware of health care professionals and critical care nursing in the intensive care unit, and 3) double trouble.
CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that flexible visiting in the ICU affected the patients and their families positively and negatively. Therefore, nursing staff need to design psychological and social interventions that address the needs of patients and their families.

Keyword

Visitors to patients; Family; Intensive care units; Family-centered nursing

MeSH Terms

Critical Care Nursing
Delivery of Health Care
Family Nursing
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Methods
Nursing Staff
Visitors to Patients