Shirasaki Kasumi, Shimazu Kaori, Hashiuchi Shinsuke, Hifumi Toru, Okajima Masaki, Otani Norio
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, St. Luke's International Hospital, 9-1 Akashicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, Japan.
Department of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
Crit Care. 2025 Jul 4;29(1):278. doi: 10.1186/s13054-025-05533-1.
After the strict visitation restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of family presence has been re-emphasized as an essential part of patient- and family-centred care in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to investigate the status of family presence policies and waiting room conditions in Japanese ICUs.
A cross-sectional survey of 292 hospitals certified as tertiary medical centres in Japan was performed using a combination of postal and web-based questionnaires. This included 12 questions about institutional characteristics, family presence policies, and waiting room facilities.
Of the 292 tertiary medical centres contacted, 151 (51.7%) responded. Of these, 120 institutions (79.5%) restricted family visiting hours, typically limited to several hours in the afternoon and limited the number of family members at the same time. These restrictions were often relaxed in cases of sudden clinical deterioration or near the end of the patient's life. In addition, 144 institutions (95.4%) had family waiting rooms for ICUs, and most provided Table (76.4%) and chairs (96.5%). However, only a few offered amenities such as books and magazines (13.9%), napping areas (10.4%), cooking facilities (3.5%), shower rooms (2.1%), or refrigerators (0.7%). Moreover, only 47 institutions (32.6%) ensured adequate privacy in their waiting rooms. There were no significant differences in the family presence policies or waiting room conditions depending on the number of ICU beds, except for the location of the family waiting room.
Most ICUs in Japan restricted family visiting hours to several hours in the afternoon and limited the number of family members at the same time. Moreover, family waiting rooms often lack essential amenities and do not sufficiently protect privacy.
在新冠疫情期间实施严格探视限制之后，家属陪伴的价值已被重新强调为重症监护病房（ICU）以患者和家庭为中心的护理的重要组成部分。本研究的目的是调查日本ICU的家属陪伴政策状况和等候室条件。
对日本292家被认证为三级医疗中心的医院进行了横断面调查，采用邮寄问卷和网络问卷相结合的方式。这包括12个关于机构特征、家属陪伴政策和等候室设施的问题。
在联系的292家三级医疗中心中，151家（51.7%）做出了回应。其中，120家机构（79.5%）限制家属探视时间，通常限制在下午几个小时，同时限制家属人数。在患者病情突然恶化或临近生命末期的情况下，这些限制往往会放宽。此外，144家机构（95.4%）设有ICU家属等候室，大多数提供桌子（76.4%）和椅子（96.5%）。然而，只有少数提供书籍和杂志（13.9%）、小憩区域（10.4%）、烹饪设施（3.5%）、淋浴间（2.1%）或冰箱（0.7%）等便利设施。此外，只有47家机构（32.6%）确保其等候室有足够的隐私。除了家属等候室的位置外，家属陪伴政策或等候室条件在ICU床位数量方面没有显著差异。
日本大多数ICU将家属探视时间限制在下午几个小时，同时限制家属人数。此外，家属等候室往往缺乏基本便利设施，且隐私保护不足。
