Advancing Family Presence Policies and Practices in the Canadian Health and Care Context: COVID-19 and Beyond

Fancott, Carol; Yonadam, Arbella; Checkley, Jessie; Drury, Julie; Hahn‐Goldberg, Shoshana; Warren, Haley R.; Biggs, Ashlee; Judd, Maria

doi:10.12927/hcq.2021.26470

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The impact of the strict ‘zero visitor’ policies implemented at the beginning of the pandemic, and ongoing restrictions, has been devastatingly negative for many patients and family caregivers, as well as for HCPs [ 26 ]. Although some hospitals across the country have relaxed policies to allow for some family presence at the time of key informant interviews, these policies were continuing to create hardship and distress for many.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Canada, over the recent years, there has been a significant increase in accommodating visiting policies, from 32% of hospitals having such policies in 2015 to 73% in early 2020 [ 26 ]. Following the onset of the pandemic, these same hospitals suspended or significantly limited family presence access [ 8 , 26 ]. Considering evidence that demonstrates benefits of family/essential caregiver presence to patient care, this study sought out to examine the impacts of acute care restrictive family presence and visiting policies in Canada during COVID-19.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Family caregivers as essential partners in care: examining the impacts of restrictive acute care visiting policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Montesanti

MacKean

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction During the pandemic many Canadian hospitals made significant changes to their ‘open family presence’ and ‘visitor policies’ to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by instituting restrictive or ‘zero visiting’ policies in healthcare facilities. These policies have the potential to create great hardship, anxiety and stress for patients, families, caregivers and frontline healthcare providers (HCPs); along with concerns about the quality and safety of patient care. The presence of family members and other caregivers as essential partners in care is an explicit expression of the philosophy of patient- and family-centred care (PFCC) in action. The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of how changes to family presence and visiting policies and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted patients, family caregivers and frontline healthcare providers (HCPs) in acute care hospitals. Methods A total of 38 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, family caregivers and HCPs in Canadian provinces who had experience with visiting policies in acute care settings during the pandemic. COVID patients, and the caregivers of COVID patients, were excluded from this study. A maximum variation sampling strategy was used to guide the selection and recruitment of patients, family caregivers and HCPs, based on our interest in gaining a diversity of perspectives and experiences. Results Many patients, family caregivers, and HCPs view family caregiver presence as integral to PFCC, describing the essential roles played by family caregivers prior to the pandemic. There were commonalities across all three groups with respect to their perspectives on the impacts of restrictive visiting policies on patients, family caregivers and HCPs. They fell into four broad integrated categories: (1) emotional and mental health; (2) communication and advocacy; (3) safety and quality of care; and (4) PFCC, trust in the healthcare system, and future decisions regarding accessing needed healthcare. Recommendations for pandemic visiting policies were also identified. Conclusions The findings from this study highlighted several impacts of restrictive family caregiver presence or visiting policies implemented during COVID-19 on patients, family caregivers and HCPs in acute healthcare settings across Canada. Participants emphasized that there is no “one-size-fits-all” caregiver presence policy that will address all patient needs. To be consistent with the practice of PFCC, patients and family caregivers are welcomed as part of the healthcare team in ways that work for them, demonstrating that flexibility in family presence and visiting policies is essential.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Family caregivers as essential partners in care: examining the impacts of restrictive acute care visiting policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Montesanti

MacKean

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, restricted visitor presence in healthcare settings was a widespread public health intervention implemented to manage physical distancing, preserve resources and mitigate the virus's spread ( Fancott et al, 2021 ; Jaswaney et al, 2021 ; Munshi, Evans, & Razak, 2021 ; Weiner et al, 2021 ). In Canada and elsewhere, most acute care settings strictly limited access only to individuals requiring essential inpatient or outpatient care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restricted family presence for hospitalized surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: How hospital care providers and families navigated ethical tensions and experiences of institutional betrayal

Conn

Coburn

Prospero

et al. 2022

SSM - Qualitative Research in Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…3 Results During COVID-19, governments needed to make quick non-informed decisions. 1 Italy, Spain, Brazil and Iran were reluctant in imposing precautionary measures fearing of the economic impact resulting high virus transmission, that obliged them to follow the international approaches after experiencing Abstracts…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

11 Essential together: a pan-Canadian program for the safe re-integration of essential care partners

Fancott

2022

Abstracts

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Method This study constitutes the qualitative part of a feasibility study which evaluates a digital information tool. A qualitative design was employed where individual interviews were undertaken. The semi-structured question guide focused on the participants experience of the active health information process prior commencing a course of radiation therapy. A deductive approach was used taking a stance in the three main domains of health literacy: functional, interactive, and critical health literacy.The digital information tool The tool consists of two separate but coherent applications: 1) virtual reality which offers a simulated visit to the hightech environment at the radiation treatment clinic, 2) information application with a focus on cancer and radiation therapy. Results To promote and maintain health applying apprehended health information requires a person-centred approach where mutual beneficial proficiency incorporate the individuals experience, characteristics, and cognitive abilities. Adequate patient information may not only promote improved HL and reduce distress but also foster a valuable relation between the individual and the healthcare professional. A relation valuable not only viewed from a person-centred approach but one which favour positive outcomes such as patient satisfaction, increased self-efficacy, and sense of preparedness before commencing radiation therapy. Message A better understanding of women´s preferences to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information will facilitate improved development of health information resources to meet the specific needs of the individual person. Furthermore, an increased understanding of the use of digital technology can provide important guidance in the co-design of digital health interventions.

show abstract

Advancing Family Presence Policies and Practices in the Canadian Health and Care Context: COVID-19 and Beyond

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

Family caregivers as essential partners in care: examining the impacts of restrictive acute care visiting policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Family caregivers as essential partners in care: examining the impacts of restrictive acute care visiting policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Restricted family presence for hospitalized surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: How hospital care providers and families navigated ethical tensions and experiences of institutional betrayal

11 Essential together: a pan-Canadian program for the safe re-integration of essential care partners

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About