SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Patient and Caregiver Perspectives on Restricted Hospital Visitation

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This thematic analysis examined how restricted hospital visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic affected patients and their family/caregivers at UC San Diego Health. The study used telephone surveys with one open-ended question, then analyzed responses using constructivist grounded theory and thematic coding.<br /><br />Among 100 patient respondents and 44 family/caregiver respondents, opinions were mixed, but negative experiences were common. About one-third of both groups expressed positive views, usually because they believed visitation limits helped prevent infection spread. However, more respondents reported negative impacts: 39% of patients and 56% of family/caregivers. The most common concerns were increased patient loneliness and isolation, reduced ability for family/caregivers to advocate for patients and provide bedside support, and worsening mood among family/caregivers.<br /><br />Patients and caregivers who reported little or no impact often described using phones, video calls, and other virtual communication tools to stay connected with each other and with the medical team. This suggests that virtual communication helped reduce some of the unintended harms of visitation restrictions.<br /><br />Overall, the findings indicate that restricted visitation may affect family/caregivers even more negatively than patients. The authors conclude that hospitals should consider ways to support virtual communication during visitation restrictions to improve the patient and caregiver experience.

Asset Subtitle

Jonathan Y. Hong

Meta Tag

Author List Austin Leonard, Cassidy Shields, Jonathan Y. Hong, Milla Kviatkovsky, Rebecca Bialostozky, Sarah F. Horman

Category Research

Concept Hospital Visitation Policies

Concept Patient Experience

Concept Family Caregiver Experience

Concept Loneliness

Concept Virtual Communication

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UCSD School of Medicine

Presenting Author Jonathan Y. Hong

Track Communication

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic

hospital visitation restrictions

patient loneliness

family caregiver impact

virtual communication

telehealth

constructivist grounded theory

thematic analysis

UC San Diego Health

caregiver advocacy

Hospital Visitation Policies

Patient Experience

Family Caregiver Experience

Loneliness

Virtual Communication