title: Acceptability of temporary suspension of visiting during norovirus outbreaks: investigating patient, visitor and public opinion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Noroviruses are a leading cause of outbreaks globally and the most common cause of service disruption due to ward closures. Temporary suspension of visiting (TSV) is increasingly a recommended public health measure to reduce exposure, transmission and impact during norovirus outbreaks; however, preventing patient-visitor contact may contravene the ethos of person-centred care, and public acceptability of this measure is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acceptability of TSV during norovirus outbreaks from the perspectives of patients, visitors and the wider public.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of patients (N = 153), visitors (N = 175) and the public (N = 224) in three diverse areas in Scotland. Health Belief Model constructs were applied to understand ratings of acceptability of TSV during norovirus outbreaks, and to determine associations between these levels and various predictor variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (84.6%) of respondents indicated that the possible benefits of TSV are greater than the possible disadvantages. Conversely, the majority (70%) of respondents disagreed that TSV 'is wrong as it ignores people's rights to have contact with family and friends'. The majority (81.6%) of respondents agreed that TSV would be more acceptable if exceptions were made for seriously ill or dying patients. Correlational analysis demonstrated that overall acceptability was positively related to perceived severity (r = 0.65), identified benefits (r = 0.54) and implementing additional communication strategies (r = 0.60); acceptability was negatively related to potential barriers (r = -0.49).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is greater service user and public support for the use of TSV than concerns around impinging upon patients' rights to have visitors. TSV should be considered as an acceptable infection control measure that could be implemented consistently during norovirus outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: k.currie@gcu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bunyan
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knussen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Acceptability; Health beliefs; Norovirus outbreak; Suspended visiting