Virtual Family Participation in Intensive Care Unit (VR-Family): A Pilot Feasibility Study

Family engagement is a cornerstone of modern ICU care, enhancing communication and decision-making between healthcare teams and families. This is particularly crucial during pandemics like COVID-19, where traditional in-person interactions are restricted to ensure safety. Virtual family participation in ICU rounds offers a promising alternative, allowing families to stay involved despite infection control measures. Research shows that family engagement improves care satisfaction and mental health outcomes, but barriers such as system constraints and communication challenges remain. Virtual participation could help address these issues while maintaining critical connections between families and healthcare teams. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of virtual family participation in adult ICU rounds. It will also explore its impact on family engagement, satisfaction, and mental health, alongside family and physician experiences. A pilot study will involve 72 family members across four Canadian ICUs, alongside interviews with 10 family members and 10 critical care physicians. Participants must be 18 years or older, able to communicate in English or French, and willing to join virtual rounds. The study emphasizes inclusivity, aiming for at least 40% women and 20% from visible minority groups. Feasibility outcomes will measure recruitment, technical aspects, and follow-up success. Secondary outcomes include family engagement, satisfaction, and mental health data, analyzed alongside participants' qualitative experiences. Findings will inform how healthcare systems can adapt to integrate virtual family participation during pandemics, offering insights for future research and policy development. This study, conducted with key advocacy organizations, seeks to advance pandemic-ready, family-centered ICU care.