BACKGROUND
In the COVID-19 pandemic, the visit restriction policy for patients has been implemented in medical institutions around the world, and visits are being made using alternative communication technologies and platforms have been used to prevent negative consequences of these restrictions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to comprehensively explore non-face-to-face visits as an alternative during infection prevention and to synthesize scientific evidence.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was conducted via the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science and unpublished trial using the clinical trials register “ClinicalTrials.gov” and Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library in 2021. The search query was developed according to the guidelines of the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies and included keywords on the topics of telemedicine and visitation restrictions.
RESULTS
The patients’ families experienced emotional distress due to restrictions on face-to-face visits, and non-face-to-face virtual visits compensating for this had a positive effect on reducing the risk of infection to the patient and the family. This further encouraged psychological and physical recovery and decreased psychological distress. However, non-face-to-face virtual technology could not replace the existence of actual families, and technical problems with networks and devices are reported as limitations.
CONCLUSIONS
Ensuring the availability of technology and educating on the same in alignment with the characteristics of patients and their families, non-face-to-face virtual visits need to show more potential as an effective patient-centered treatment strategy based on more research and advanced practice.
CLINICALTRIAL
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