title: Preferences for Visitation in the PACU.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify PACU visitor update/visitation preferences. In a cross-sectional, descriptive design using a convenience sample, visitors of patients having elective or emergency surgery completed a survey of five update/visitation options and visitor characteristics. Visitation responses were ranked and compared based on visitor characteristics. Of 249 visitors, 64% were female; 94% visited adult patients. Of visitation options, a one-time, 5- to 10-minute visit within two hours of patient transfer to the PACU was most frequently preferred (27.3%), but no option was significantly preferred over the others. After categorizing visitors into two groups based on blood line ties, close family preferred a one-time visit and distant relatives/friends preferred a verbal report 30 minutes after PACU arrival (P = .015).
authors.affiliation: Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Nursing Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA. dewittl@ccf.org
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeWitt
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*