An interventional study of questionnaire in ICU Staff Attitudes Toward Family Presence, ICU Staff Experience of Family Presence and Adaptation to Extended Family Presence in the ICU, sponsored by Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Belgium. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-21.
Sponsored by Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
The goal of the study is to verify how healthcare professionals in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience the presence of family members before and after a more flexible visiting policy is introduced. The main question is :
Does attitude and perception of the ICU staff regarding family presence in the ICU change after a period during which a more flexible visitation policy was implemented in daily care?
Additional exploratory primary question Is sensitivity to stress related to the initial attitudes and perceptions of ICU- staff regarding family presence in the ICU, and to the way these attitudes and perceptions change after a period of implementation and adjustment to the more flexible visitation policy?
The study consists of two main measurements: Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire before the change in visiting policy and again several months after the new policy has been introduced.
The study also looks at which factors may make family presence feel more supportive or more demanding for healthcare professionals. Therefor some participants may also complete a short questionnaire about their experiences during work shifts.
The visiting policy itself is part of routine ICU care and is not decided by the study.
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel is the lead sponsor of 374 studies on the registry; 106 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
questionnaire
Other: questionnaire
the study focusses specifically on staff attitudes, experiences and adaptation over time, and on factors that may influence whether family presence is experienced as supportive or demanding.
Changes from baseline in healthcare providers'attitudes and perceptions regarding family presence in the adult ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
The change in healthcare providers' attitudes and perceptions is measured using the BAVIQ score prior to the introduction of the more flexible visitation policy (baseline) and six months after implementation (Follow-up) . The primary out is the change in the BAVIQ score between the baseline measurements and Follow-up. No predifined threshold is used; scores are analysed as continuous measures. Time points: T0 = baseline time point, before implementation of the extended visiting policy. T1 = implementation time point, during the early implementation period of the extended visiting policy. T2 = follow-up time point, approximately 6 months after implementation of the extended visiting policy.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) assessed once before implementation of the extended visiting policy. Follow- up (T2) assessed once approximately 6 months after implementation of the extended visiting policy.
association between individual vulnerability to stress and overload and attitudes and perceptions regarding family presence.
The susceptibility to individual vulnerability to stress and overload is measured using the IPIP-NEO facet scales for Anxiety and Vulnerability at baseline. The outcome measures are the IPIP-NEO Anxiety and Vulnerability facet scores, their association with the BAVIQ score at baseline, and their association with the change in the BAVIQ score between baseline and follow up. Time points: T0 = baseline time point, before implementation of the extended visiting policy. T1 = implementation time point, during the early implementation period of the extended visiting policy. T2 = follow-up time point, approximately 6 months after implementation of the extended visiting policy.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) assessed once before implementation of the extended visiting policy.
factors that may influence the ICU staff 's experience of family presence during care
This is measured using a shift questionnaire assessed after indiviual work shifts. Rated on a 0-10 scale : * percieved family presence during the shift * amount of direct contact with the family members * perceived burden related to family presence * perceived support or positive contribution of family presence. Open-ended comments on factors influencing burden or support. Time points: T1 = implementation time point, during the early implementation period of the extended visiting policy (less then six months).
Time frame: T1: implementation period: assessed during a 2-week data collection period during the early implementation period of the extended visiting policy
Plan to share: Yes — a formal request needs to be sent by mail to the PI + juridischedienst@uzbrussel.be The legal department of UZ Brussel needs to be involved in drafting the Data Sharing Agreement. Additionally, specifications on the data granularity, timing of sharing, restricted availability, proposed transfer-medium, will be defined upfront.
Supporting information: Study protocol
Time frame: 01/2028
Access criteria: a formal request needs to be sent by mail to the PI + juridischedienst@uzbrussel.be The legal department of UZ Brussel needs to be involved in drafting the Data Sharing Agreement. Additionally, specifications on the data granularity, timing of sharing, restricted availability, proposed transfer-medium, will be defined upfront.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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