The impact of visiting restrictions in intensive care units for families during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review

Abstract

Aim: To synthesize current evidence about the impact visiting restrictions in adult intensive care units have on family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Integrative literature review. Methods: A total of 104 articles were retrieved. Screening yielded a total of 23 articles which were appraised for quality. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to synthesize findings and extract themes. Data Sources: CINAHL Plus, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed and ProQuest databases were searched for articles between January 2020 and November 2022. Results: The findings were grouped into two main themes with six subthemes. Theme 1: not being present at the bedside, and Theme 2: altered communication added to family members' distress. Findings indicate that visiting restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic had negative consequences for family members. Conclusion: The patient and their family are inherently connected, prioritizing family presence with the return of flexible, open visitation policies in ICU must be a priority to mitigate further harm and adverse outcomes for all. Reporting Method: The review complies with the PRISMA guidelines for reporting systematic reviews. Implications for Profession: Nursing leaders must be included in the development of future pandemic policies that advocate family-centred care. No Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution was included in this review.