An evaluation of family-centered care services and organization of visiting policies in Belgian intensive care units: a multicenter survey.
BACKGROUND
Admission in an intensive care unit (ICU) is a major cause of psychologic stress for the patient and the entire family, and liberalization of visitation has been shown to have a beneficial impact. However, despite the data available, practice has not changed much to incorporate these findings.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the visiting policies of Belgian ICUs.


METHODS
A descriptive multicenter questionnaire survey was prospectively conducted.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven ICUs completed the questionnaire (75.0%). All (100%) reported restricted visiting-hour policies, and limited numbers of visitors. Mean total daily visiting time was 69+/-33 minutes. The type of visitors was restricted to only immediate relatives in 11 ICUs (19.3%). Children were not allowed in 5 ICUs (8.8%), and 46 ICUs (80.7%) fixed an age limit for visiting. Thirty ICUs (52.6%) were providing families with information in a special room in addition to the waiting room, whereas 6 (10.5%) reported having no waiting room available, and 9 ICUs (15.8%) provided an information leaflet. A structured first family meeting at time of admission was organized in 42 ICUs (73.7%). A final family meeting at ICU discharge was planned in only 16 centers (28.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Participating ICUs homogeneously reported restricted visiting policies regarding visiting hours and type and number of visitors. According to the evidence available, providing a plea for more liberal visitation, these results may be a first step toward reorganization of visiting policies in Belgian ICUs.
Vandijck
Dominique M
DM
Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Dominique.Vandijck@UGent.be
Labeau
Sonia O
SO
Geerinckx
Cindy E
CE
De Puydt
Ellen
E
Bolders
Ann C
AC
Claes
Brigitte
B
Blot
Stijn I
SI
D001530:Belgium; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients