Video calls between patients and relatives: a narrative review

Abstract

Many services have introduced video calls between patients and family members during the pandemic. To synthesize the literature on the use of video calls between patients and family members when "in presence" visits are limited or banned. A narrative review of the literature was conducted by searching PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases using the keywords video call, covid, relative and similar terms. Articles on video calls between family members and patients referring to the 2020-2022 pandemic period have been included. Eighteen studies were included: six descriptive qualitative, four case reports, three cross-sectional, three observational, a quasi-experimental and a commentary; most of them were from Italy and based in intensive care and long-term facilities. The most used term was video call. Studies investigated how to properly plan and conduct the video call, prepare the patient and his/her family, accounting for the technical aspects and devices. Video calls may generate positive effects on satisfaction, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and distress of patients and families; however, negative effects have been also documented. The use of video calls in acute care and end-of-life settings implies a different complexity from nursing homes or long-term care facilities. The video call must be planned and evaluated as all other nursing interventions; it cannot be spontaneous and without a preliminary assessment of the potential benefits and risks; health care professionals should be properly trained.