Effect of Increasing Visitation Time on Physiological Parameters, Pain and Level of Consciousness on Patients Hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Visitation is one of the important traits take care nursing in the ICU and must be in the care plan patient. But despite its important, yet it has not been clear that done as limited or free visitation in these units. The present study aimed to determine the effect of increased visitation time on physiological indices, Pain and Level of Consciousness of the patients hospitalized in ICUs. Method: In this clinical trial, single-blind trial conducted 90 participants who hospitalized in ICU Shohada Teaching Hospital, Tabriz, Iran by using a convenience sampling and were allocated into two groups. In the intervention group received visitation in 3 times a day during 12, 16 and 18 for 30 minutes, but the control group, received visitation according to the hospital routine once a day at 12 for 10 minutes. And Data were collected through 4-parts questionnaire with examined physiological Indicator, pain and level of consciousness participants in before, during, 10 and 30 minutes after the visitation. Data analysis was conducted using the x2 test, paired t-test, Independent t-test and ANOVA Repeated measure test on SPSSv.23. Results: By controlling physiological indices, Pain and Level of Consciousness before intervention there were no significant differences between groups (P> 0.05), After the intervention, in terms of the measured time period (before, during, 10 and 30 minutes after the visitation) showed significant difference in all indices except Level of Consciousness in two groups (P< 0.05). And the number of intervention sessions (three sessions) except in systolic and diastolic blood pressure indices (P< 0.05), other indices had a significant difference. But in terms of the groups (control and intervention groups) were not statistically significant difference in the all of indices (P< 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, increase the duration and number of visitation planned and identified for the family members of patients in ICU not only impact did not have on the improvement of physiological indices, pain and Level of Consciousness patients but are not any side effects on the indices. Therefore, there is no reason to limit visitation in intensive care units.