Family involvement in the intensive care unit in four Nordic countries
BackgroundRelevance to clinical practice The findings from the study highlighting family involvement, high-quality communication and flexible visiting policy as central aspects of family care may inspire clinicians to identify aspects of everyday family care in their ICUs calling for further improvement.Aims and objectivesTo describe family involvement, communication practices and visiting policies in adult ICUs.DesignA cross-sectional survey.MethodA questionnaire consisting of 11 sections was developed, pilot tested and e-mailed to 196 ICUs. The participants were intensive care nurses in adult ICUs in four Nordic countries.ResultsThe survey was conducted in October to December 2019. The re…
Conditions and strategies to meet the challenges imposed by the COVID-19-related visiting restrictions in the intensive care unit: A Scandinavian cross-sectional study
ObjectivesTo examine conditions and strategies to meet the challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related visiting restrictions in Scandinavian intensive care units.Research methodology/designA cross-sectional survey.SettingAdult intensive care units in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.Main outcome measuresLikert scale responses and free-text comments within six areas: capacity and staffing, visiting policies and access to the unit, information and conferences with relatives, written information, children as relatives and follow-up initiatives.ResultsThe overall response rate was 53% (74/140 participating units). All intensive care units had planned for capacity extensions;…