The Psychological Impact of Restricting Visits to Inpatients on the Inpatients Themselves, Their Families, and Health Care Providers Under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tomoko Shiraishi; Kumiko Ataka; Megumi Kimura; Naomi Nabeshima; Takahito Ito; Asuka Ide; Takako Kondo; Ayako Ozaki; Junichi Tsukada

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The Psychological Impact of Restricting Visits to Inpatients on the Inpatients Themselves, Their Families, and Health Care Providers Under the COVID-19 Pandemic

VernacularTitle:COVID-19蔓延下での担がん患者および患者家族，医療従事者への面会制限の心理的影響
Author: Tomoko SHIRAISHI ¹ ; Kumiko ATAKA ¹ ; Megumi KIMURA ¹ ; Naomi NABESHIMA ¹ ; Takahito ITO ¹ ; Asuka IDE ¹ ; Takako KONDO ¹ ; Ayako OZAKI ² ; Junichi TSUKADA ¹
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1. Palliative Care Center, Hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health
2. Nursing Department, Wakamatsu Hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Keywords: visitation restriction; COVID-19; psychological strain
From:Palliative Care Research 2022;17(2):65-70
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: It is important to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inpatient care and the needs of inpatients and their families. We conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey of inpatients who had been referred to our palliative care team, their families (hereafter referred to as patients' families), and their primary nurses (hereafter referred to as PNs). The EZR statistical software was used for statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference. 31 patients [9 males, 22 females; median age 65 years (range 30-85 years)], 25 family members, and 26 PNs responded. The question “Do you ever feel depressed due to restricted visitation?” had a significantly stronger impact on patient families than on patients (p<0.05). Compared to patients, patient families tended to prefer face-to-face visits (p<0.05). The impact of visitation restrictions was greater on patients’ families than on the inpatients, suggesting that it is important to provide care and support to patients’ families especially during periods when there are visitation restrictions.