Family support in intensive care units during COVID-19 visit ban: A multinational Delphi Study during first COVID-19 wave

Marie-Madlen Jeitziner; Béatrice Jenni-Moser; Bjoern Zante; Katja Erne; Maria Brauchle; Sarah A Moser; Joerg C Schefold; Karin Amrein; Magdalena Hoffmann

doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103308

Family support in intensive care units during COVID-19 visit ban: A multinational Delphi Study during first COVID-19 wave

Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2023 Feb:74:103308. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103308. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

Authors

Marie-Madlen Jeitziner¹, Béatrice Jenni-Moser², Bjoern Zante³, Katja Erne⁴, Maria Brauchle⁵, Sarah A Moser⁶, Joerg C Schefold⁷, Karin Amrein⁸, Magdalena Hoffmann⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Nursing Science (INS), Department of Public Health (DPH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: marie-madlen.jeitziner@insel.ch.
² Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: beatrice.Jenni@insel.ch.
³ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: bjoern.zante@insel.ch.
⁴ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: erne.katja@bluewin.ch.
⁵ Department for Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria. Electronic address: maria.brauchle@lkhf.at.
⁶ Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: sarahanna.moser@insel.ch.
⁷ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: joerg.schefold@insel.ch.
⁸ Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: karin.amrein@medunigraz.at.
⁹ Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Research Unit for Safety in Health, c/o Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Executive Department for Quality and Risk Management, University Hospital Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: magdalena.hoffmann@medunigraz.at.

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed opinions and experiences of healthcare professionals, former patients and family members during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on challenges in family-centred care for intensive care unit patients and affected families.

Research methodology/design: A two-round modified Delphi process assessed the opinions and experiences of experts such as healthcare professionals, former patients and their families (n = 151).

Setting: This study was conducted across four countries in Europe.

Results: In total, 121 participants (response rate 80.13%) answered the first Delphi round; the second was answered by 131 participants (response rate 86.75%). Participants perceived family support in the intensive care unit as highly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enabling contact amongst patients, families and clinicians is regarded as essential to build hope and confidence in the treatment and the recovery process. The extraordinary situation led to the implementation of new communication structures such as video calls and websites.

Conclusion: A consensus was reached between healthcare professionals that virtual contact is essential for patients with COVID-19 and their families during visit restrictions. This should be done to establish confidence in the treatment.

Keywords: COVID-19; Communication; Critical care; Family; Isolation; Visiting ban.

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Delphi Technique
Family
Family Support
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Pandemics