Bringing COVID-19 Patients Together with Their Relatives in the Intensive Care Unit: Virtual Patient Visit

The project was carried out in order to examine the effect of the Virtual Patient Visit program, implemented under the leadership of the intensive care nurse in the intensive care unit, on the state anxiety level of COVID-19 patients and their relatives, the satisfaction of their relatives, hospital anxiety and depression, and to reveal the views and experiences of physicians and nurses about virtual visit . During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Patient Visit Program, which is regularly applied every day in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), is the program for all patients who receive invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation, are sedated or are conscious (2.97± 5.45 vs. 1.49±2). ,19) and their relatives (5.70±2.68 vs. 3.53±2.82) significantly decreased the state anxiety level (p<0.01). In addition, Virtual Patient Visit, Virtual Patient Visit Program applied by using virtual technology platforms and mobile devices was effective in reducing the hospital anxiety level of patient relatives (9.40±4.63 vs. 7.68±3.65) (p<0.01), however, no significant decrease was found in hospital depression scores (p>0.01). In the evaluation made after the patients left the intensive care unit, it was seen that the relatives of the patients were very satisfied with the intensive care unit (80.5%) and the Virtual Patient Visit Program (96%). Physicians and nurses working in the ICU, instead of the limited patient visits during COVID-19, informing the relatives of the patients by phone by the physicians do not fully satisfy the relatives of the patients, therefore, the Virtual Patient Visit program will meet the psychosocial needs of the relatives of the patients and contribute to patient recovery and family-centered care practices. Because of this, they stated that it is an innovative essential application. Virtual Patient Visit reduced state anxiety levels of all patients and their relatives, regardless of whether patients were intubated or not. In addition, the relatives of the patients were emotionally supported and informed and were able to see and say goodbye to the patients until their last days. Virtual Patient Visit is an important program to be implemented during the pandemic, therefore it is recommended that all intensive care units use this program by adopting it and preparing their multidisciplinary teams.