Closed to visitors: service user and public views on suspended visiting during norovirus outbreaks

Introduction: Temporarily suspending visitors (TSV) during norovirus outbreaks has been implemented as a control measure. However, wide-scale adoption may run contrary to person-centred care and may not be acceptable to the public. This study investigated the acceptability of TSV to patients, visitors and the public during norovirus outbreaks.
Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was conducted in an urban, a rural and a remote area of Scotland. The questionnaire asked participants to indicate their agreement or disagreement with statements about TSV. These had been identified from focus groups and a Delphi study with patients, visitors, the public and staff. Results: 554 returned questionnaires were included in the analysis. The effects of having norovirus for service users were considered severe (M=8.47, SD 2.15; range 1[low]-10[high]) and TSV during norovirus outbreaks was relatively acceptable (M=8.46, SD=1.75). TSV was not generally thought to be upsetting for service users and visitors (M=3.73, SD=2.68) or to be against people’s rights (M=3.68, SD=3.06) and overall the benefits of TSV were judged to outweigh the disadvantages (M=8.22, SD 2.35). With regard to the implementation of TSV, informing service users’ families of the commencement of TSV (M=8.56, SD=2.25) and providing a means of communication between service users and families (M=8.55, SD=2.21) were rated highly, as were allowing exceptions for patients who were terminally ill (M=8.03, SD=2.72) and children (M=7.05, SD=3.12). Conclusion: TSV during norovirus outbreaks was acceptable to participants. They rated highly factors related to communication and exceptions that could be considered for inclusion in norovirus outbreak guidelines.