Preferences for Visitation in the PACU

The purpose of this study was to identify PACU visitor update/visitation preferences. In a cross-sectional, descriptive design using a convenience sample, visitors of patients having elective or emergency surgery completed a survey of five update/visitation options and visitor characteristics. Visitation responses were ranked and compared based on visitor characteristics. Of 249 visitors, 64% were female; 94% visited adult patients. Of visitation options, a one-time, 5- to 10-minute visit within two hours of patient transfer to the PACU was most frequently preferred (27.3%), but no option was significantly preferred over the others. After categorizing visitors into two groups based on blood line ties, close family preferred a one-time visit and distant relatives/friends preferred a verbal report 30 minutes after PACU arrival (P = .015).