Prof. Name

Date

Clinical Question

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered lives worldwide, presenting numerous challenges. A critical issue that has emerged is the implementation of quarantine and isolation measures, particularly in long-term care facilities. These restrictions have had a detrimental impact on patient and family engagement, resulting in negative consequences such as increased complications and elevated patient mortality rates.

Research conducted by Tupper et al. (2020) underscores the positive effects of family presence on the quality of life and mortality rates among residents in long-term care settings. The absence of family members leads to care inconsistencies, healthcare errors, and missed opportunities to address specific patient needs. Furthermore, the psychological well-being of patients has suffered due to enforced isolation, contributing to higher mortality rates and complications.

Considering the critical importance of family engagement during the pandemic, our group has formulated the PICOT question, “Patient and Family Engagement during a Pandemic.” This topic has raised significant concerns throughout 2020, and this paper seeks to explore the negative effects of restricted family involvement on patient outcomes, the implications for healthcare workers and family members, and the urgent need for solutions to this pressing issue.

Synthesis of Literature

The study by Tupper, Ward, and Parmar (2010) investigates the connection between family visits or engagement and patient well-being, including its impact on healthcare staff. The research identifies two key variables: the independent variable being the allowance of family visits and the dependent variable being patient well-being. Findings indicate that permitting family visits correlates with enhanced patient well-being. This qualitative research emphasizes the quality of patient health and its influence on healthcare professionals. Additionally, Tupper et al. (2020) highlight the necessity of balancing family engagement with the safety of all individuals involved.

In another qualitative study by Burn and Chung (2010), the focus is on the role of evidence-based medicine in addressing clinical questions. This study identifies two variables: the independent variable being the formulation of clinical questions and the dependent variable being the application of evidence-based medicine. The findings illustrate the critical role of evidence-based practices in shaping the future of healthcare and improving quality efforts.

Levels of Evidence

Our group has been assigned a prognosis question, which seeks to predict the outcomes of an intervention for a particular population (Burns & Chung, 2010). The PICOT question centers on promoting family and patient participation during the pandemic and evaluating the effects of various interventions on patients and their families. The study design selected for this analysis is determined by the nature of the research question.

Cohort studies are often an appropriate method for prognosis questions. As noted by Burns and Chung (2010), a prospective cohort study involves observing participants undergoing an intervention and assessing outcomes. This methodology allows for comparison between two groups with similar characteristics but exposed to different interventions. In the context of our PICOT question, both research groups comprise hospitalized patients and their families during the pandemic. One group receives a targeted intervention aimed at improving family engagement, while the other group does not receive the same intervention. Given the circumstances of the pandemic, a prospective cohort design is suitable as it facilitates ongoing monitoring and implementation of prescribed interventions.

Based on this design, our study aligns with level two evidence, indicating moderate certainty in the results. By employing a prospective cohort approach, we can obtain valuable insights regarding the prognosis and effects of interventions on patient and family outcomes during the pandemic.

Search Strategies

To conduct my research, I employed various search strategies to identify relevant literature. Initially, I accessed the Chamberlain University Library and utilized specific keywords, such as “family and patient engagement during a pandemic” and “COVID-19 pandemic,” to direct my search. I explored multiple databases, including CU libraries and Google Scholar, to gather informative publications.

To refine my search results and manage the overwhelming number of available papers, I implemented specific filters and criteria. My focus was on selecting peer-reviewed articles while restricting the geographical location to the United States. Additionally, I limited my search to articles p