Beliefs and Attitudes toward Expanded Visitation among Intensive Care Unit Nurses : A Latent Profile Analysis

Purpose : This study aimed to identify latent profiles of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ beliefs and attitudes toward expanded visitation, examine the four patterns derived by combining these profiles, and compare perceptions of family-centered care and nursing profession self-efficacy across the four subgroups.Methods : A self-report survey was conducted among 187 nurses working in ICUs at tertiary and general hospitals. The Beliefs and Attitudes toward Visitation in the ICU Questionnaire, a visual analog scale for family-centered care, and the Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale were administered. Latent profile analysis was conducted separately for beliefs and attitudes, and four patterns were defined by cross-tabulating the profiles. Groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons, supplemented by Welch’s and Kruskal-Wallis tests.Results : Beliefs were classified as Supportive (56.7%) or Management-Oriented (43.3%), and attitudes were as Receptive (39.6%) or Defensive (60.4%). The two were significantly associated (χ2=13.23, p ＜.001, φ=.27), yielding four patterns: Advocates, Conflicted, Resisters, and Accommodators. The patterns differed in overall nursing self-efficacy (F=4.54, p =.004), professional role (F=4.81, p =.003), and caring (F=4.15, p =.007). Advocates scored higher than Resisters in overall self-efficacy and professional role, and higher than Resisters and Accommodators in caring. Family-centered care perceptions did not differ.Conclusion : ICU nurses’ beliefs and attitudes formed four patterns, including incongruent ones. Self-efficacy was highest among Advocates and differed mainly from Resisters, suggesting an association with overall favorability toward visitation rather than the belief-attitude gap. Strengthening professional self-efficacy may support more flexible visitation; longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted.