Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35790228›Full record

ReviewCMAJ open

Family presence in Canadian PICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods environmental scan of policy and practice.

Jennifer Ruth Foster, Laurie A Lee, Jamie A Seabrook, Molly Ryan, Laura J Betts, Stacy A Burgess, Corey Slumkoski, Martha Walls, Daniel Garros, Canadian Critical Care Trials Group

Open access · diamondAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in CMAJ open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
3.0field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Pediatric critical care capacity in Canada.Paediatrics & child health · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jennifer Ruth FosterDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. jennifer.foster@iwk.nshealth.ca.
Laurie A LeeDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Jamie A SeabrookDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Molly RyanDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Laura J BettsDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Stacy A BurgessDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Corey SlumkoskiDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Martha WallsDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Daniel GarrosDepartment of Pediatric Critical Care (Foster, Ryan, Betts, Burgess), Children's Health Program (Burgess), and patient partners, Department of Pediatric Critical Care (Slumkoski, Walls), IWK Health, Halifax, NS; Department of Critical Care (Foster), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; Faculty of Nursing (Lee), and Department of Pediatrics (Lee), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences (Seabrook), Brescia University College, and Children's Health Research Institute (Seabrook), London, Ont.; Stollery Children's Hospital (Garros), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Division of Critical Care (Garros), Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Canadian Critical Care Trials Group
Stollery Children's Hospital · CADalhousie University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite their broad commitment to family-centred care, children's hospitals and associated pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) restricted family presence during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to describe family presence policies and practices in Canadian PICUs from March to May 2020, and their evolution by August to December 2020.

methodsWe conducted an environmental scan of family presence policies and restrictions in all 19 Canadian PICUs using 2 methods. We conducted a literature review of public-facing visitation policy documents in June 2020 using a standardized data extraction form. We also administered a cross-sectional survey of PICU leadership (managers and physician chiefs) between August and December 2020 by telephone or videoconferencing. We used inductive content analysis to code qualitative data, generating summative count data. We analyzed quantitative data descriptively.

resultsAs part of the literature search, we collected 2 (12%) PICU-specific, 14 (82%) pediatric-specific and 1 (6%) hospital-wide visitation policy documents from the early pandemic. One policy document provided guidance on all of the policy elements sought; the number of enabled caregivers was not included in the documents for 7 of 19 units (37%). All 19 Canadian PICUs were represented among the 24 survey respondents (15 physician chiefs and 9 operations or clinical managers). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, all units allowed the presence of 2 or more family members. Early in the pandemic, reported practices limited the number of adult caregivers for patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection to 1 (

interpretationEarly COVID-19-related family presence policies in Canadian PICUs varied among centres. Although some centres adapted policies and practices, this study revealed ongoing potential threats to family centred care at the mid-pandemic stage.

Indexed as

COVID-19AdultCanadaChildCross-Sectional StudiesHumansIntensive Care Units, PediatricPandemicsPolicySARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID35790228
PMCPMC9262350
OpenAlexW4283832151

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.