The Effect of Hospital Visitor Policies on Patients, Their Visitors, and Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Iness, Audra N.; Abaricia, Jefferson O.; Sawadogo, Wendemi; Iness, Caleb M.; Duesberg, Max Serge; Cyrus, John; Prasad, Vinay

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.04.005

Cited by 41 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Iness and co-workers at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, report a systematic review of available data concerning the impact of restrictive hospital visitor policies on patient, family and visitor, and healthcare provider well-being during the period of COVID hospital lockdown. 2 Like the findings of the Japanese study, these investigators found that restrictive hospital policies were associated with failure to address the needs of patients, their visitors, and healthcare providers in various clinical environments.…”

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confidence: 71%

Collateral Damage

Alpert

2022

The American Journal of Medicine

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confidence: 71%

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Alpert

2022

The American Journal of Medicine

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“…Source control via masking and proper hand hygiene compliance are also important interventions for the prevention of HAII. Enhanced visitor restrictions and universal masking policies, such as those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, could also be effective in reducing HAII, but further research is needed to find the optimal balance of risks and benefits of these policies [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Epidemiologic and Molecular Links Between Patients With Community- and Hospital-Acquired Influenza A: 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, Michigan

Wan

Lauring

Valesano

et al. 2023

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

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Background Hospital-acquired influenza virus infection (HAII) can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Identifying potential transmission routes can inform prevention strategies. Methods We identified all hospitalized patients testing positive for influenza A virus at a large, tertiary care hospital during the 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 influenza seasons. Hospital admission dates, locations of inpatient service, and clinical influenza testing information were retrieved from the electronic medical record. Time-location groups of epidemiologically linked influenza patients were defined and contained ≥1presumed HAII case (1st positive ≥48 hours after admission). Genetic relatedness within time-location groups was assessed by whole genome sequencing. Results During the 2017-2018 season, 230 patients tested positive for influenza A (H3N2) or unsubtyped influenza A including 26 HAII. There were 159 influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 or unsubtyped influenza A positive patients identified during the 2019-2020 season including 33 HAII. Consensus sequences were obtained for 177 (77%), and 57 (36%) of influenza A cases in 2017-2018 and 2019-2020, respectively. Among all influenza A cases, there were 10 time-location groups identified in 2017-2018, and 13 in 2019-2020; 19 of 23 groups included 4 or fewer patients. In 2017-2018, 6 of 10 groups had ≥2 patients with sequence data, including at ≥1 HAII case. Two of 13 groups met this criteria in 2019-2020. Two time-location groups from 2017-2018 each contained 3 genetically linked cases. Conclusions Our results suggest that HAII arise from both outbreak transmission from nosocomial sources as well as single infections from unique community introductions.

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“…But based on the fact that elective procedures were severely restricted during the study period as part of the provision of ICU capacity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be assumed that patients were confronted with more serious medical conditions (more than one-third were hospitalized due to cancer). The impact of VR during the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of hospitalized patients and their visitors, particularly in vulnerable populations, was examined by Inees et al ( 20 ). Overall, the VRs were associated with negative emotions and detrimental effects on most in-patients and their families, especially in the context of end-of-life care ( 21 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relatives Experience More Psychological Distress Due to COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Visitation Restrictions Than In-Patients

Felser

Sewtz

Kriesen

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to visiting restrictions (VRs) of patients in hospitals. Social contacts between patients' relatives play an important role in convalescence. Isolation may cause new psychological comorbidity. The present study investigated the psychological distress of VR in in-patients and their relatives.MethodsFrom April 1, 2020 to May 20, 2020, 313 in-patients (≥14 years) of the University Medical Center Rostock were interviewed by questionnaires and 51 relatives by phone. Subjective psychological distress was assessed by a distress thermometer [0 (not at all)−100 (extreme)]. The study also investigated stressors due to VR, psychological distress in dependence on demographic or disease-related data, currently used communication channels and desired alternatives and support.ResultsRelatives were more psychologically distressed by VR than in-patients (59 ± 34 vs. 38 ± 30, p = 0.002). Loss of direct physical contact and facial expressions/gestures resulted in the most distress. Psychological distress due to VR was independent of demographics and indicates small positive correlations with the severity of physical restriction and the general psychological distress of in-patients. The most frequent ways of communication were via phone and social media. Frequently requested alternatives for patients were other interlocutors and free phone/tablet use, for relatives visiting rooms with partitions.ConclusionVRs are a stressor for patients and their relatives. The establishment of visiting rooms with partitions and the free use of phones/tablets could reduce the additional distress.

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The Effect of Hospital Visitor Policies on Patients, Their Visitors, and Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Cited by 41 publications

References 50 publications

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Investigating Epidemiologic and Molecular Links Between Patients With Community- and Hospital-Acquired Influenza A: 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, Michigan

Relatives Experience More Psychological Distress Due to COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Visitation Restrictions Than In-Patients

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