Visitation needs in the intensive care unit as perceived by trauma patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived visitation needs of trauma patients in the intensive care unit. Eighteen male and two female subjects were interviewed within 48 hours of transfer from the intensive care unit to a general medical/surgical unit. Eight visitation needs were considered important or very important by at least 50 percent of the subjects. The fact that the needs were identified does not mean, however, that these needs had been met. Correlations between age and the perceived importance of four visitation needs were statistically significant (p<.05). The subjects' length of stay in the intensive care unit correlated with the perceived importance of one visitation need. The majority of subjects indicated that they were capable of making decisions regarding visitation. Also, the majority of subjects indicated that they perceived the need to see people outside their immediate family, primarily close friends. The findings from this study indicate that a uniform, strictly enforced visitation policy did not meet all of the trauma patients' needs to see their loved ones.