Visitation needs of patients and their families in the coronary care unit
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Date
1991
Department
Nursing
Program
Citation of Original Publication
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the perceived visitation
needs of patients with myocardial infarctions (MIs) and their families
and to determine if they differed from one another. The needs of
patients and families with prior experience with a CCU were compared
to determine if their needs differed from those without previous
experience. The visitation needs of patients with a history of MI
were also compared to determine if any difference existed between the
two groups. A comparison was also made between males and females to
determine if sex influenced visitation needs. The need for patients
and families to regulate visitation was also examined.
The study population consisted of a convenience sample of 32
patient-family pairs with all patients being hospitalized in a Coronary
Care Unit (CCU) with a confirmed diagnosis of MI.
A non-experimental, descriptive study was utilized for this study.
Information on patient and family visitation needs was obtained by
using a modified version of a questionnaire developed by Susan Boykoff
(1986). Mean values were computed for all items on the questionnaire.
The top five needs for patients and families were the same although
in a slightly different order. This demonstrated a general congruence
between patient and family needs indicating these are primary visitation
needs. A t-test indicated that patients and families rated one need
significantly different. This was the need to allow only family members
to visit in the CCU, with families rating the need as more important.
The need to allow friends to visit in CCU was rated as the least
important need by both patients and families.
Gender was found to have a minimal effect on the rating of
visitation needs, while CCU experience was not found to influence this
rating. History of a prior MI was found to influence the need to have
nurses respond to families' phone calls, with those with no previous
MI rating this need as more important. Regulation of visitation was
not found to be a high ranking need by either patients or families
in this study. However, comments on the questionnaires indicate patients
and families desire individualization of visitation.
Further investigation is needed in order to examine if differences
in age, race, or ethnicity influences the visitation needs of patients
and their families. Replication of this study is urged in order to
further explore and help meet the visitation needs of CCU patients
and their families.