Benefits and Risks of Visitor Restrictions for Hospitalized Children During the COVID Pandemic

Virani, Alice; Puls, Henry T.; Mitsos, Rebecca; Longstaff, Holly; Goldman, Ran D.; Lantos, John D.

doi:10.1542/peds.2020-000786

Cited by 91 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The short-term and long-term effects of these restrictions are unknown, but may be significant. 19 While we found that the majority of parents understood the need for revised visitation policies, they reported significant concerns about their consequent ability to visit, care for, and bond with their infants. The visitation restrictions were implemented between mid-March and early April 2020 in the USA and UK during the early stages of the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Our findings highlight the complex challenges of developing and implementing guidelines during a rapidly evolving novel pandemic, with limited evidence and experience available, and the expected tradeoffs on the established standard of care and its benefits. 19 Some of the impacts may be mitigated by individualising policies to meet the unique requirements of the affected population and local centres, and in situations including end of life care or life-threatening surgeries/procedures, and by constant re-evaluation of emerging evidence and the impact of policies. 19 Policy makers must recognise and reflect that parents are key partners in the care of their baby on the NICU and integral to optimal outcomes.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parental perceptions of the impact of neonatal unit visitation policies during COVID-19 pandemic

Muniraman

Ali

Cawley

et al. 2020

bmjpo

150

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ObjectivesTo ascertain parental perceptions of the impact of restricted visiting policies to neonatal intensive care units during the current COVID-19 pandemic.DesignCross-sectional survey of parents impacted by visitation policies.SettingSix tertiary level neonatal units, four from the UK and two from the USA, participated in the study.ParticipantsParents and families of infants hospitalised in the participating centres between 1 May 2020 and 21 August 2020.MethodsOnline-based and/or paper-based survey, querying the visitation policies and their impact on parents’ ability to visit, care for and bond with their infants.ResultsA total of 231 responses were received. Visitation limited to a single visitor with no restrictions on duration was the most frequently reported policy; 140/217 (63%). Visitation policies were perceived as being restrictive by 62% (138/219) of the respondents with 37% (80/216) reporting being able to visit less often than desired, 41% (78/191) reporting being unable to bond enough and 27% (51/191) reporting not being able to participate in their baby’s daily care. Mild to severe impact on breast feeding was reported by 36% (75/209) of respondents. Stricter policies had a higher impact on families and were significantly associated with a lack of bonding time, inability to participate in care and an adverse impact on breast feeding.ConclusionsVisitation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic varied between centres and over time with stricter restrictions implemented earlier on in the pandemic. Parents reported significant impacts on their ability to visit, care for and bond with their infants with perceived severity of impact worse with stricter restrictions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental perceptions of the impact of neonatal unit visitation policies during COVID-19 pandemic

Muniraman

Ali

Cawley

et al. 2020

bmjpo

150

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“…Ultimately, as health care systems attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, new policies have led to families interacting very differently with their infants in the NICU-or not at all. These rapidly instituted changes may carry with them the risk of secondary unintended consequences [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of restrictions on parental presence in neonatal intensive care units related to coronavirus disease 2019

et al. 2020

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Objectives To determine the relationship between the emergence of COVID-19 and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family presence as well as how NICU design affects these changes. Study design A cross-sectional survey from April 21 to 30, 2020. We queried sites regarding NICU demographics, NICU restrictions on parental presence, and changes in ancillary staff availability. Results Globally, 277 facilities responded to the survey. NICU policies preserving 24/7 parental presence decreased (83-53%, p < 0.001) and of preserving full parental participation in rounds fell (71-32%, p < 0.001). Single-family room design NICUs best preserved 24/7 parental presence after the emergence of COVID-19 (single-family room 65%, hybriddesign 57%, open bay design 45%, p = 0.018). In all, 120 (43%) NICUs reported reductions in therapy services, lactation medicine, and/or social work support. Conclusions Hospital restrictions have significantly limited parental presence for NICU admitted infants, although singlefamily room design may attenuate this effect.

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“…Despite the severe regulations concerning the ban on visits, some special arrangements were available for seriously ill patients in inpatient nursing and especially palliative and hospice care facilities. This exception was at the discretion of the doctor providing the treatment; when exceptional circumstances arise, personalised decisions about visits were reported to be ensured weighing the risks and bene ts arising from visitors [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We Are Taking Every Precaution to Do Our Part...”: A Comparative Analysis of Nursing, Palliative and Hospice Care Facilities’ Websites During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ölçer

Mohamed

Yılmaz-Aslan

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on health care processes. Precautions such as restrictions imposed on visitors and social distancing have led to multiple challenges, particularly in terms of communication. Using the case of nursing, palliative and hospice care facilities in Germany and drawing on agenda-setting theory, the present study aims to shed light on how health care facilities use their websites to inform (potential) health care users about changes in regulations, new protective measures implemented and about recommendations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The websites of nursing, palliative and hospice care facilities in Germany were examined using qualitative document analysis and qualitative content analysis. A total of 138 websites was analysed in the study. The data gathered includes all the information about COVID-19 on these websites published from the beginning of March until August 15, 2020. Results: Facilities show similarities in adhering to the measures taken by the authorities to restrict the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and to protect vulnerable patients and employees. The message of avoiding to pay visits to patients in facilities unless there was an emergency was shared between facilities; however, visiting procedures in practice varied by types of facilities. For optimal communication, telephone and especially video calls were the options preferred by healthcare providers and health care users. Facilities made great efforts to prevent emotional stress and to strengthen resilience among all stakeholders. Transparency was adopted by many facilities in order to build the public’s trust. Conclusion: The agenda of health care facilities has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sheds light on the strategies developed by facilities, their efforts to increase emotional resilience among health care staff and health care users, the ethical guidelines they have adopted regarding privacy policies as well as how these themes are communicated via the facilities’ websites. The results can inform other health care facilities about how websites can be used as essential communication tools in times of public health crises.

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Benefits and Risks of Visitor Restrictions for Hospitalized Children During the COVID Pandemic

Cited by 91 publications

References 8 publications

Parental perceptions of the impact of neonatal unit visitation policies during COVID-19 pandemic

Parental perceptions of the impact of neonatal unit visitation policies during COVID-19 pandemic

Impact of restrictions on parental presence in neonatal intensive care units related to coronavirus disease 2019

“We Are Taking Every Precaution to Do Our Part...”: A Comparative Analysis of Nursing, Palliative and Hospice Care Facilities’ Websites During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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