Impact of family visit restrictions due to COVID-19 policy on patient outcomes: A cohort study.
Daphne Bloemberg, Selma C W Musters, Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman and 3 others
PMID 35699245WHAT IT FOUND
In 530 gastrointestinal surgery inpatients, limiting family visits to 30 minutes daily did not show clear differences in delirium, falls, pneumonia, pressure ulcers or 30-day readmissions compared with usual visits.
Key findings
01Delirium occurred in 12 patients (4.2%) in the restricted-visit cohort and 9 patients (3.7%) in the usual-visit cohort, with no significant difference (OR 1.14; p=0.78).
02Pressure ulcers occurred in 12 patients (4.2%) in the restricted-visit cohort and 16 patients (6.6%) in the usual-visit cohort; the odds ratio was 0.62 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.34; p=0.22).
03Readmissions within 30 days occurred in 40 patients (13.9%) in the restricted-visit cohort and 30 patients (12.3%) in the usual-visit cohort, with no significant difference (OR 1.15; p=0.59).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was a before-and-after comparison of hospital policy, not a randomised trial. Unknown confounders could not be adjusted for. Outcomes were taken from registry records, and the authors suggest possible underreporting because of high workload and changed responsibilities. The study did not measure major surgical complications such as anastomotic leakages or intra-abdominal abscesses. The study did not measure intensive care unit admissions. The study did not measure patient experience or family distress. Some risk-assessment data were missing and were imputed. Some measurement instruments used were not validated. The findings apply only to adult gastrointestinal surgical inpatients at two Dutch hospitals during a 10-week period.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that family visits are unnecessary or that visitor restrictions are safe. The study found no clear differences in five outcomes, but it was retrospective, had possible underreporting, did not measure major surgical complications or patient and family experience, and was limited to a short period in gastrointestinal surgery.