Promoting patients health in intensive care units by family members and nurses: A literature review

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization in intensive care units (ICUs) can cause physiological and psychological challenges for patients and their family members. Using a family-centered approach in provision of visiting hours promotes the health of patients. The purpose of this study is to review the perception of nurses and family members of patients in ICUs about visiting their patients. METHODOLOGY: The published articles in the last 10 years from 2008 to 2018 on the perception of nurses and family members of patients in critical care units about visiting their patients searched for in databases including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, SID, Scopus, CINAHL, OVID, IRANDOC, and Magiran using keywords “family members perception,” “nurses' perception,” “intensive care units,” and “visiting” in English and Farsi, and finally, 15 articles were selected. RESULTS: Results showed that nurses do not have appropriate viewpoint about visiting patients in ICUs, and they discussed and outlined the barriers of visiting patients given the benefits of family members' presence. CONCLUSION: There are several limitations on the process of family members visiting their patients in the ICUs. It is essential to modify the nurses' attitudes and remove the organizational limitations in this area.