By Mohand Hachemane, for Choupidou
Family presence influences the psychological experience of relatives and sometimes the physiological parameters of the patient
Family stress
A recent study conducted on families of patients undergoing cardiac surgery focused on the effect of family-centered care (Lotfalipoor et al., 2024). Researchers observed that relatives often experience moderate to high levels of anxiety in this type of situation, which is consistent with the context of a serious and uncertain hospitalization.
Integrated family
When care teams integrate the family more into the care pathway, through clear information, structured emotional support, and supervised participation, the evolution of anxiety scores differs significantly compared to families receiving conventional care. The authors observe statistical differences between the intervention and control groups.
Emotional impact
They remain cautious, however. The results concern a specific context, that of cardiac surgery, and do not allow for affirming a direct impact on the patient's medical outcome. However, the study suggests that the way the family is integrated into care influences the psychological experience of relatives. Family presence and involvement thus contribute to the quality of the emotional environment of care.
Reference:
Lotfalipoor, R., Jafaraghaee, F., Kazemnejad Leyli, E., Ghorbani Vajargah, P., Karkhah, S., & Javadi-Pashaki, N. (2024). Effect of family-centered care on the anxiety levels among family members of patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial . Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 86(3), 1370–1375.
When the bond breaks: What are the consequences for relatives?
We have seen that family presence can influence the psychological experience of relatives and contribute to the emotional environment of care. But what happens when this bond is broken?
Absence of relatives
A qualitative systematic review published in 2024 in BMC Health Services Research synthesized 184 international studies on the effects of family presence restrictions in intensive care during the pandemic (Krewulak et al., 2024).
The results are remarkably consistent. When relatives cannot be present at the bedside of a patient hospitalized in intensive care, testimonies overwhelmingly evoke fear, anxiety, stress, sadness, or a feeling of abandonment. Physical separation, especially during critical moments or at the end of life, is described as particularly distressing.
Families also report increased difficulty in understanding the clinical situation, feeling involved in decisions, and maintaining a human connection with their loved one. Several studies included in the review describe an experience felt as dehumanizing, both for patients and their relatives.
Towards solutions
It is important to remain measured. These are qualitative data based on experience accounts. The review does not precisely quantify the prevalence of anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress. However, it consistently shows that the rupture of family ties is a central factor of psychological distress in the context of critical hospitalization.
In other words, the absence of presence profoundly changes the experience of those around the patient.
If physical separation increases distress, what can digital tools do to maintain, at least partially, this bond? Can they truly alleviate the anxiety of relatives, or are they merely an imperfect substitute for human presence? This is what we will explore.
Reference:
Krewulak, K. D., Jaworska, N., Lee, L., St. Louis, J., Dmitrieva, O., Leia, M. P., et al. (2024). Impact of restricted family presence during the COVID-19 pandemic on critically ill patients, families, and critical care clinicians: A qualitative systematic review . BMC Health Services Research, 24, 936.
Tools to maintain the connection, including remotely, can reduce family anxiety
Maintain the connection
When physical presence becomes impossible, some teams have implemented digital alternatives. Video calls, secure platforms, and virtual visit devices have allowed for minimal contact between patients and families.
In this context, an observational study conducted on patients hospitalized in COVID isolation in Shenzhen (Liu et al., 2025) analyzed the association between the use of digital communication tools and the mental health of patients. The authors show that the use of digital communication tools, particularly video calls with family or friends, is associated with lower probabilities of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Patients maintaining regular digital contact therefore showed less psychological distress than those not using these tools.
Results to be confirmed
However, it is essential to remain cautious. The study is cross-sectional and observational. It highlights a statistically significant association but does not establish a causal link. More generally, the majority of research on digital tools in hospitals still relies on descriptive, qualitative, or observational studies. Randomized controlled trials are rare, and anxiety measures are not always standardized.
Current data therefore suggest a plausible protective effect of maintaining remote connection, but the level of evidence is still being consolidated.
Science indicates two important elements: The broken bond is associated with significant psychological distress in relatives. Digital devices that allow for maintaining contact could mitigate this distress, but their precise effectiveness must be evaluated with greater methodological rigor.
The question then becomes central: If the absence of a bond weakens, how can we design digital tools that truly support families, while being evaluated with the same level of scientific rigor as other health interventions?
Reference:
Liu, T. C., Yu, Z. Y., Lin, S. W., et al. (2025). ICT communication with family/friends and its associations with mental health and insomnia in COVID-19 patients during hospital quarantine: A cross-sectional study in Shenzhen, China . BMC Psychiatry, 25, 648.