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Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey

BACKGROUND: Frequent visiting and communication with patients’ families are embedded within normal ICU practice, however the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this, and it is unclear how ICUs are managing. We aimed to investigate how NHS ICUs are approaching family communications and visiting during...

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Autores principales: Boulton, Adam J, Jordan, Helen, Adams, Claire E, Polgarova, Petra, Morris, Andrew Conway, Arora, Nitin
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9403523/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36033248
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17511437211007779
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author Boulton, Adam J
Jordan, Helen
Adams, Claire E
Polgarova, Petra
Morris, Andrew Conway
Arora, Nitin
author_facet Boulton, Adam J
Jordan, Helen
Adams, Claire E
Polgarova, Petra
Morris, Andrew Conway
Arora, Nitin
author_sort Boulton, Adam J
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Frequent visiting and communication with patients’ families are embedded within normal ICU practice, however the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this, and it is unclear how ICUs are managing. We aimed to investigate how NHS ICUs are approaching family communications and visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An electronic snapshot survey was delivered between 16th April and 4th May 2020 and was open to NHS ICUs. Replies from 134 individual ICUs with COVID patients were included. RESULTS: All reported that visiting was more restricted than normal with 29 (22%) not allowing any visitors, 71 (53%) allowing visitors at the end of a patient’s life (EOL) only, and 30 (22%) allowing visitors for vulnerable patients or EOL. Nearly all (n = 130, 97%) were updating families daily, with most initiating the update (n = 120, 92%). Daily telephone calls were routinely made by the medical (n = 75, 55%) or nursing team (n = 50, 37%). Video calling was used by 63 (47%), and 39 (29%) ICUs had developed a dedicated family communication team. Resuscitation and EOL discussions were most frequently via telephone (n = 129, 96%), with 24 (18%) having used video calling, and 15 (11%) reporting discussions had occurred in person. Clinicians expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation and raised concerns about the detrimental effect on patients, families, and staff. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has resulted in significant changes across NHS ICUs in how they interact with families. Many units are adapting and moving toward distant and technology-assisted communication. Despite innovative solutions, challenges remain and there may be a role for local and national guidance.
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spelling pubmed-94035232022-08-26 Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey Boulton, Adam J Jordan, Helen Adams, Claire E Polgarova, Petra Morris, Andrew Conway Arora, Nitin J Intensive Care Soc Original Articles BACKGROUND: Frequent visiting and communication with patients’ families are embedded within normal ICU practice, however the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this, and it is unclear how ICUs are managing. We aimed to investigate how NHS ICUs are approaching family communications and visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An electronic snapshot survey was delivered between 16th April and 4th May 2020 and was open to NHS ICUs. Replies from 134 individual ICUs with COVID patients were included. RESULTS: All reported that visiting was more restricted than normal with 29 (22%) not allowing any visitors, 71 (53%) allowing visitors at the end of a patient’s life (EOL) only, and 30 (22%) allowing visitors for vulnerable patients or EOL. Nearly all (n = 130, 97%) were updating families daily, with most initiating the update (n = 120, 92%). Daily telephone calls were routinely made by the medical (n = 75, 55%) or nursing team (n = 50, 37%). Video calling was used by 63 (47%), and 39 (29%) ICUs had developed a dedicated family communication team. Resuscitation and EOL discussions were most frequently via telephone (n = 129, 96%), with 24 (18%) having used video calling, and 15 (11%) reporting discussions had occurred in person. Clinicians expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation and raised concerns about the detrimental effect on patients, families, and staff. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has resulted in significant changes across NHS ICUs in how they interact with families. Many units are adapting and moving toward distant and technology-assisted communication. Despite innovative solutions, challenges remain and there may be a role for local and national guidance. SAGE Publications 2021-04-06 2022-08 /pmc/articles/PMC9403523/ /pubmed/36033248 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17511437211007779 Text en © The Intensive Care Society 2021
spellingShingle Original Articles
Boulton, Adam J
Jordan, Helen
Adams, Claire E
Polgarova, Petra
Morris, Andrew Conway
Arora, Nitin
Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title_full Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title_fullStr Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title_full_unstemmed Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title_short Intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK survey
title_sort intensive care unit visiting and family communication during the covid-19 pandemic: a uk survey
topic Original Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9403523/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36033248
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17511437211007779
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