Table 2.
Themes and subthemes for restricted visitation before (preCOVID) and during (midCOVID/lateCOVID) the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
| Theme and subtheme | preCOVID | midCOVID | lateCOVID |
|---|---|---|---|
| N = 101 | N = 71 | N = 85 | |
| Reasons for visitor restrictions, n (%) | |||
| Conserve and redeploy resources (e.g., PPE) | - | 6 (8%) | 3 (4%) |
| Discretion of the healthcare team | 40 (40%) | 7 (10%) | 11 (13%) |
| During handover (e.g., shift-to-shift) | 6 (6%) | - | - |
| Prevent the spread of COVID-19 | NA | 26 (37%) | 20 (24%) |
| Prevent the spread of infection | 20 (20%) | 3 (4%) | 2 (2%) |
| Privacy | 23 (23%) | - | 1 (1%) |
| Protect the public and hospital occupants | 10 (10%) | 52 (73%) | 52 (61%) |
| Exceptions to visitation policy, n (%) | |||
| COVID-19 positive patients (no visitors) | NA | 12 (17%) | 19 (22%) |
| End-of-life, MAID or compassionate care or critically ill patient (visitors allowed) | 13 (13%)) | 61 (86%) | 68 (80%) |
| Patients requiring assistance (visitors allowed) | - | 19 (27%) | 33 (39%) |
| Visitation policies and expectations, n (%) | |||
| Hand hygiene | 49 (49%) | 20 (28%) | 61 (72%) |
| Visitor screening | 50 (50%) | 58 (82%) | 61 (72%) |
| Personal protective equipment: | |||
| Public health measure | 6 (6%) | 18 (25%) | 35 (42%) |
| Contact and isolation precautions | 19 (19%) | 8 (11%) | 25 (29%) |
| Physical distancing | 3 (3%) | 11 (15%) | 25 (29%) |
| Patient and family-centred care, n (%) | |||
| Alternative ways to engage a patient (e.g., video call) | - | 36 (51%) | 38 (45%) |
| Resources (e.g., mental health, appeal, concerns) | 40 (40%) | 27 (38%) | 35 (41%) |
| Patient care and wellbeing (e.g., personal items) | 33 (33%) | 23 (32%) | 24 (28%) |
| Transparency, n (%) | |||
| End-of-life definitions | - | 4 (6%) | 10 (12%) |
| Active COVID-19 cases at hospital | NA | 10 (14%) | 8 (9%) |
| Phased return to visitation | NA | 1 (1%) | 4 (5%) |
lateCOVID = 1–30 June 2020; MAID = medical assistance in dying; midCOVID = 5–7 May 2020; NA = not applicable; preCOVID = before the COVID-19 pandemic; PPE = personal protective equipment.