Open AccessFamily Presence for Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury and the Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Claire J. Creutzfeldt,
Robert W. Schutz,
Darin B. Zahuranec,
Barbara Lutz,
J. Randall Curtis,
Ruth A. Engelberg
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of palliative medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.986
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-6218
pISSN - 1557-7740
DOI - 10.1089/jpm.2020.0520
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , pandemic , medicine , family member , covid-19 , traumatic brain injury , brain trauma , acquired brain injury , qualitative research , medical emergency , intensive care unit , nursing , psychiatry , family medicine , physical therapy , disease , social science , pathology , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , rehabilitation
Objectives: The global COVID-19 pandemic made strict visitation policies necessary. We explored the experiences of family members of patients with severe acute brain injury focusing on the impact of family presence in the hospital. Methods: Semistructured interviews (February 2018-April 2020) were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We interviewed family members of 19 patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, or cardiac arrest; five interviews occurred after initiation of restrictive visitation policies. Four key themes highlight the role of visitation on family's ability to (1) cope by being at the bedside, (2) protect and advocate for the patient, (3) build trust with clinicians, and (4) receive emotional support in the intensive care unit. After visitation restrictions, families found ways to communicate and support virtually and wished for proactive communication from clinicians. Conclusions: Family presence at patient's bedside fulfills important needs. Visitation restrictions require hospitals to be creative and inclusive to help maintain these connections.