Adverse Psychological Effects of Patients in Medical Isolation Due to Healthcare-Associated Infections

Background: Patients placed in medical isolation due to healthcare-associated infections experience adverse psychological effects that can impact their quality of life. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review was to identify the adverse effects of patients in medical isolation as well as explore coping strategies that can be used to decrease these adverse effects. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the databases of CINAHL, PsychInfo, PubMed, and PsychArticles. Search terms included adverse effects, negative effects, effects, adverse outcomes, negative outcomes, isolation precautions, contact isolation, droplet isolation, airborne isolation, isolation, coping and psychology. Results: Five common adverse psychological effects of patients placed in medical isolation were identified across the eight studies reviewed. Those included depression, anxiety, anger, stress and dissatisfaction of care were identified. The coping tools used to decrease the adverse effects of medical isolation including support of family, adequate knowledge, and contact with the outside world. Conclusion: Further studies are needed with a larger number of participants to more accurately understand the potential outcomes of the coping strategies used to decrease the adverse effects of patients in medical isolation