Dominant Strategies of Patient Visiting in Selected Intensive Care Units in Iran

Positive outcomes of visiting have been supported in many studies. In Iran, the results of studies showed the implementation of restricted visiting policies in most intensive care units (ICUs). However, medical staff of ICUs, especially nurses claimed to address the needs of patients and their families..
This study aimed to explain the strategies employed in the context of restricted policies to address the needs of patients and their relatives..
A descriptive qualitative study with an approach of thematic analysis was used. Ten nurses, six head nurses, and two physicians participated in the research through purposeful sampling. Most of the data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews, but observation and related document revision were also used. The method introduced by Braun and Clarke (2006) was used to analyze the data..
Three categories emerged, including “visual visiting”, “mini visiting” and “individualized visiting”, which are employed with respect to the conditions of the ward and patients, staff approaches and policies adopted at the hospital level..
The dominant strategies of visiting in selected ICUs in Iran were explained. It seems that given all the situations including special cultural traits of Iranian people, individualized visiting is the most suitable strategy to bring about positive impacts of visiting on the process of physical and mental recovery of ICU patients while it is necessary that decisions be made separately in each ward and for each patient..