ABSTRACT Background and Aims Existing research on in‐person and virtual visitation is predominantly quantitative, focusing on the effectiveness and safety of these practices in the intensive care unit (ICU). Significant differences may exist in the experiences of diverse stakeholder groups regarding ICU visitation across these modalities. Consequently, we aim to explore the lived experiences of patients, family members, and healthcare providers with in‐person or virtual visitation practices in the ICU. Methods A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study will be conducted to gain an insight into the in‐person or virtual visitation practices of the patients, family members, and healthcare providers. Participants will be recruited through purposive sampling from ICUs of three large public hospitals in Southwest China, focusing on stakeholders (patients, family members, and healthcare providers) involved in ICU family visitation. Sociodemographic information of participants will be collected. In‐depth individual interviews will be conducted using a semi‐structured interview guide until data saturation is achieved. The study will adhere to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Data analysis will follow Colaizzi's seven‐step phenomenological method. NVivo 15 will be employed for data management and analysis. Discussion This study is expected to uncover variations in implementation, elucidate stakeholder perspectives, identify challenges inherent to each approach, and ultimately advance the development of family visitation practices in ICUs.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.