The Effects of Hospital Visiting – A Pilot Study

1. The Effects of Hospital Visiting – A Pilot Study Mandy Watkins, Health Services Research Group

2. Need for Research • The literature research found no studies on the effects of hospital visiting in the orthopaedic setting and very little research for long term settings • The effects on visitors in the orthopaedic setting could be quite significant

3. Aims of the Study • 1) To investigate the effects of hospital visiting on the patients and their relatives • 2) To focus on the visitor’s perspective in order to gain an understanding into their experience of visiting

4. BOB KIPKE BOB KIPKE BOB KIPKE KIPKE BOB 2 GRAPHICS GRAPHICS GRAPHICS GRAPHICS 2000 2000 2000 2000 Project Design • Qualitative approach • Literature search and review • Observational study of the orthopaedic trauma unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

5. Main Findings • Reasons for visiting • Patient – visitor interaction • Visitor – nurse interaction

6. Reasons for Visiting • The relatives visit their hospitalised family member to see how they are progressing and how they are feeling • They want to help the patient to be as comfortable and happy as possible • Many of the previous research findings were identified in the results of this study • Visitors acted as patient advocate

7. Patient – Visitor Interactions • Non-spouse male visitors tended to be the ones who picked up the patient chart to check their progress • When patients are visited by their spouse there is not much conversation. Often they sit in comfortable silence.

8. Visitor – Nurse Interactions • Visitor – nurse interaction was found to be mostly visitor initiated and on a help seeking basis • More visitor – nurse interaction was observed at the weekend when it was quieter on the ward. • The nurses were very willing to help the visitors in any way that they could.

9. Limitations • Short amount of time in which to carry out the project • Unable to interview patients and visitors • Hawthorne effect

10. Recommendations • Using interviews as well as observation • Increase 15 minute observation spells • More observation times • Gain access to information about how long patients have been in hospital

11. Acknowledgements • Undergraduate summer research scholarship, RGU • Professor Rosemary Chesson, Health Services Research Group • Ms Noelle Ruta, clinical nurse manager, orthopaedics, GUHT • All the staff at the Health Services Research Group