Feeling worried and powerless: A qualitative interview study of relatives’ experiences of the collaboration with patients and nurses during COVID-19 visiting restrictions in Denmark

Relatives are an important resource to hospitalised patients and hence to nursing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting restriction policies were implemented in healthcare settings globally, unwillingly excluding relatives from visiting the bedsides of their loved ones. The aim of the present study was to explore how the visiting restrictions influenced relatives’ relationships with patients and collaboration with registered nurses at non-pandemic hospital wards. In total, 13 relatives were interviewed. The study was reported following the COREQ guidelines and checklist. Content analysis led to three themes: 1) being excluded from providing care and support; 2) being excluded from conveying person-centred and situational relevant knowledge to registered nurses; and 3) being excluded from assessing the health status of the hospitalised loved one. Together they describe relatives feeling worried and powerless regarding the health of their hospitalised loved one and the performed nursing care. Findings from studies such as this are pivotal to any future national or global health crisis, where visiting restriction policies are implemented.