Flexible vs Restricted Visitation Policy in Intensive Care Unit: A Pro–Con Debate

PRO-CONjoint engagement of patients and their families/caregivers in the management of critically ill patients to promote a true partnership between healthcare teams and families.Especially in the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, where most intensive care units followed a restricted visitation policy, we have interesting data on the health ramifications of these policies.The negative psychological effects of the restricted visitation policies on both patients and attenders were evident in the studies following the pandemic. Flexible Visitation Policy: The ProsThe sickest patients lie in the ICU, surrounded by beeping and alarming machines, unfamiliar faces and conversations, facing their fearsome illness alone with their own anxieties.At this juncture, the presence of their families/next of kin at the bedside can decrease anxiety, improve feelings of satisfaction, and positively impact the overall well-being of both patients and families. 4There is a positive emotional and psychological impact of the presence of family members communicating with patients, reassuring them, and encouraging them to cooperate with the doctors, nursing staff, and physiotherapy teams.