ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Restrictive visiting hours continue to predominate at most intensive care units (ICU). Maintaining the current visiting policy or switching to an open visiting hours policy continues to be a controversial study for the staff. OBJECTIVES: To know the staff perspective on the effects of open visiting hours on patients, family and professional activity. To gather proposals in order to modify the current visiting policy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A 30-item 'Likert-type scale' data was administered to ICU doctors, nurses and health care assistants of Alava University Hospital. Data was collected within an Excel database and analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for descriptive statistics purposes and the Chi Square test was used for the bivariate analysis related to age, professional category and years of experience. RESULTS: The staff (n=64) considered that open visiting hours could have a beneficial effect on patients (67%) and relatives (61%). However, 62% considered that open visiting hours would be of little benefit for the staff themselves. Neither the experience of the respondent nor their professional category seem to have any statistical effect on the perception of the benefit of open visiting hours. However, the younger staff members consider open visiting hours would be more beneficial for the patient (p=.024). A total of 50% of surveyed staff would maintain the current visiting hours and would extend them if required by the patient's condition. CONCLUSIONS: Staff members continue to consider the current, restricted visiting policy to be the most appropriate option for the unit. However, they accept the possibility of extending visiting hours for particular cases if beneficial for the patient.