Family Presence and Visitation Practices in Latin American PICUs: An International Survey

Abstract

Over the last two decades, there has been a worldwide cultural shift toward family-centered intensive care. We conducted a survey of 47 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across 11 Latin American countries to assess visitation practices and bedside family presence (with a 97.9% response rate). All PICUs had at least some form of parental visitation. The prevalence of unrestricted (24 hours/day) parental visitation was 63%. Sibling visitation was permitted in 23% of PICUs, while 35% allowed family presence during procedures, and 46% during resuscitation. Only 1 PICU allowed pet visitation. Family visitation and bedside presence are still restrictive in Latin American PICUs, with wide practice variation among the various intensive care units.

Visiting Policies and Parental Presence During PICU Admission: A Survey in French Units

“…The survey response rate was 29 of 35 (83%) and represented 24 different counties (including three overseas counties and territories) within French PICUs (Table 1). The median (range) number of beds per unit was 8 (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), with 750 (150-1500) admissions per year. Figure 1 shows the reported availability of various professionals involved in patient and family care in…”

“…A questionnaire was constructed based on a review of previous studies (7,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). The following areas were considered: general characteristics of the unit (type of hospital, activity, number of beds, number of admissions, facilities for parents, information booklet distribution, and presence of nonmedical professionals), visiting policies (opening hours, number of visitors, access by siblings and relatives), parental involvement in care, and evolution of policies over time (i.e., evaluation of changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and local opinions).…”

Relationship between parental stress and post‐traumatic stress disorder: The moderating effect of visitation restrictions in paediatric intensive care units during COVID‐19

“…However, in the absence of visits, the initial impression received from hospital staff behaviours can lead to anxiety and promote PTSD symptoms. Until now, receiving information, participating in childcare, and facilitating of communication to help parents cope 28,29 have been suggested as positive effects of visitation from the parents' point of view during PICU hospitalization. In addition, as visits can also play an important role as an intervention in reducing discomfort and anxiety regarding staff behaviours, they should be enabled in various ways, even in difficult situations.…”

Family-centered care for social and psycho-emotional satisfaction of the child and his/her family in pediatric ICU: a multicenter questionnaire study

“…РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. Респонденты среди пациентов и их родите лей в своих ответах об усло виях пребывания в ОРИТ (его местоположение в лечеб ном учреждении; назначение помещений отделения и ка чество их санитарно гигиенической уборки; диагностика, лечение, уход; коммуникация и психоэмоциональная под держка медперсоналом) выражали свое мнение оценкой 4 (4)(5). В оценке членами семьи характера оказываемой ими помощи пациенту указаны санитарно гигиенический уход (87,9 %), кормление (86,4 %), наблюдение за меди цинским оборудованием (50,9 %), помощь медперсоналу в транспортировке пациента (53,5 %).…”

“…Тем не менее продолжаются споры о необходимости и значимости совместного пребывания пациентов с членами с воей семьи, в категорию которых в рамках семейно-ориентированного подхода в уходе за пациентами в ОРИТ относят всех родных и близких лю дей, оказывающих ему в лечебном учреждении помощь [3,4]. Противники совместного пребывания пациента и членов его семьи в ОРИТ ссылаются на возникающие при этом для них и медицинского персонала нега тивные аспекты в морально-этической, экономической, эпидемиологической и социальной сферах [5]. Сторонники реализации семейно-ориентированной идеологии в лечении пациента в ОРИТ приводят доказательства по тем же направлениям, что и противники, но исключительно с положительных позиций, отмечая позитивные психоэмоциональный, социальный, терапевтический и экономический эффекты [6][7][8].…”