{rfName}
Co

Indexed in

License and Use

Icono OpenAccess

Citations

Altmetrics

Analysis of institutional authors

Corbella DAuthor

Share

January 18, 2023
Publications
>
Article
Sí

Communication and visiting policies in Italian intensive care units during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and lockdown: a nationwide survey

Publicated to: Bmc Anesthesiology. 22 (1): - 2022-12-01 22(1), DOI: 10.1186/s12871-022-01726-1

Authors:

Langer T; Depalo FC; Forlini C; Landini S; Mezzetti A; Previtali P; Monti G; de Toma C; Biscardi D; Giannini A; Fumagalli R; Mistraletti G; Lissoni B; De Martini A; Mareto N; Rossitto C; Zummo U; Taverna M; Machieraldo P; Navarra M; Parlanti Garbero M; Scaletti C; Perno S; Amendolia L; Montrucchio G; Veliaj D; Barbarello G; Alesci M; Bolgiaghi L; Vailati D; Pezzi A; Boselli E; Piccoli F; Greco M; Gemma M; Resta M; Crotti S; Bottino N; Abruzzese C; Savioli M; Migliorino G; Muttini S; Umbrello M; Borghi B; Greco S; Dizeo M; Bottiroli M; Mondino MG; Prosepri M; Casella G; Curto F; Zaniboni M; Giudici R; Gentile C; Bombino M; Rona R; Cortinovis B; Benini A; Avalli L; Tavola M; Ferrario M; Preda R; Primerano E; Russo G; Porta V; Valdambrini F; Fassini P; Orando S; Beck E; Pedeferri M; Cogliati G; Testini D; Moroni B; Codeluppi V; Ruggeri P; Milanesi E; Belliato M; Besozzi A; Riccio M; Zerbi S; Corbella D; Ferri F; Grazioli L; Bonanomi E; Giacomini M; Sacchi N; Codognola C; Ambrosini A; Guatteri L; Subert M; Castelli GP; Borelli M; Venier E; Dittura L; Buttera S; Bigai R; Magnoni S; Rauch S; Colombo A; Fullin G
[+]

Affiliations

Azienda USL Toscana Centro - Author
Niguarda Ca' Granda Metropolitan Hospital - Author
Ospedale San Paolo - Author
Spedali Civili Di Brescia - Author
Università degli Studi di Milano , Ospedale San Paolo - Author
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Author
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca , Niguarda Ca' Granda Metropolitan Hospital - Author
See more

Abstract

Background: During the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave, an unprecedented number of patients with respiratory failure due to a new, highly contagious virus needed hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The aim of the present study was to describe the communication and visiting policies of Italian intensive care units (ICUs) during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and national lockdown and compare these data with prepandemic conditions. Methods: A national web-based survey was conducted among 290 Italian hospitals. Each ICU (active between February 24 and May 31, 2020) was encouraged to complete an individual questionnaire inquiring the hospital/ICU structure/organization, communication/visiting habits and the role of clinical psychology prior to, and during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. Results: Two hundred and nine ICUs from 154 hospitals (53% of the contacted hospitals) completed the survey (202 adult and 7 pediatric ICUs). Among adult ICUs, 60% were dedicated to COVID-19 patients, 21% were dedicated to patients without COVID-19 and 19% were dedicated to both categories (Mixed). A total of 11,102 adult patients were admitted to the participating ICUs during the study period and only approximately 6% of patients received at least one visit. Communication with family members was guaranteed daily through an increased use of electronic devices and was preferentially addressed to the same family member. Compared to the prepandemic period, clinical psychologists supported physicians more often regarding communication with family members. Fewer patients received at least one visit from family members in COVID and mixed-ICUs than in non-COVID ICUs, l (0 [0–6]%, 0 [0–4]% and 11 [2–25]%, respectively, p < 0.001). Habits of pediatric ICUs were less affected by the pandemic. Conclusions: Visiting policies of Italian ICUs dedicated to adult patients were markedly altered during the first COVID-19 wave. Remote communication was widely adopted as a surrogate for family meetings. New strategies to favor a family-centered approach during the current and future pandemics are warranted.
[+]

Keywords

Health communicationIntensive care unitsPandemicsPatient-centered careProfessional-family relations

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Bmc Anesthesiology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q3 for the agency WoS (JCR) in the category Anesthesiology.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-12-21:

  • Scopus: 3
[+]

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-21:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 40.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 40 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 6.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 9 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
[+]

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

[+]