Experiences and perceptions of patients and their caregivers on visitor guidelines for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protocol for a research study

Abstract

AbstractBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic led to high cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Spain and the Balearic Islands. Vulnerable individuals were disproportionately affected, especially in nursing homes. Strict isolation measures and visitor restrictions had negative impacts. The study aims to explore patient and caregiver experiences and propose improvement strategies for future health crisis protocols.Methods: a qualitative study of content analysis through semi-structured interviews. 32 interviews will be conducted with patients and relatives or caregivers, 16 will be hospitalized COVID patients or accompanying relatives: 8 patients and 8 relatives, and 16 will be non-COVID patients or accompanying relatives also admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic: 8 patients and 8 relatives. Intentional theoretical sampling shall be carried out. The inclusion criteria for COVID patients will be patients admitted to ICU or specific COVID units. The exclusion criteria for patients will be those in gynaecology and obstetrics units. Two data collection techniques will be used, the semi-structured interview with patients and their caregivers, and the field diary of the principal investigator. An analysis of the content will be carried out following deductive and inductive strategies. Funding was approved in April 2021.Discussion: The experiences and perceptions of patients and relatives on visiting guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic will be identified. Impact: the study will allow us to highlight the impact of visiting policies on patients and their families as well as propose new measures for said visiting policies in the framework of future health crises focusing on patients and families. This will help to minimize the suffering these restrictions may cause.