title: Children visiting adults in ITU-what support is available? A descriptive survey.
abstract: Traditionally, children appear to have been discouraged from visiting in adult intensive therapy units. Various reasons have been given, mostly unsubstantiated by research. There is minimal information specifically related to this topic, but all studies (and related studies) reviewed propose visiting as a method to help children cope with critical illness in an adult family member. This postal survey offers a general perspective of how units have responded to the nursing literature and previous recommendations to date. This appears to have been the first national study specifically exploring the support for children visiting (or who may wish to visit) a critically ill adult in an intensive therapy unit. This study highlights (perhaps for the first time) not only the lack of policy and staff education but also the lack of available information for visitors, regarding visits by children so that they can make informed choices together.
authors.affiliation: steve@sbartlett46.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: Pauline E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vint
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D005195:Family Relations; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016134:Organizational Policy; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014789:Visitors to Patients