Physician perceptions of restrictive visitor policies during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is understood of the consequences of restrictive visitor policies that were implemented in hospitals to minimize risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to describe physician experiences with these policies and reflections of their effects.

Methods

We conducted semistructured phone interviews from September 2020 to March 2021 with physicians practising in Ontario hospitals, recruited via professional networks and snowball sampling. We audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed interviews to describe and interpret overarching themes by thematic analysis.

Results

We interviewed 21 physicians (5 intensivists, 5 internists, 11 specialists in palliative care). Four main thematic categories emerged, including provider,

SUBMITTER: Wentlandt K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9911125 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature