Introduction:
To slow the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the pandemic, healthcare institutions worldwide implemented rules to restrict hospital visitation, poising significant challenges for the entire healthcare system. The presence of relatives often facilitates communication and exchange of information between patients and healthcare professionals.

Material and methods:
The study involved 203 adult, independent patients and 198 relatives. Conducted in a rehabilitation outpatient clinic between November 2021 and March 2022, the study aimed to evaluate how patients and their relatives perceived visitation restrictions in hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients and their relatives were divided into two groups based on their positive or negative assessment of the restrictions.

Results:
Among the patients, 44% (N = 90) evaluated the visitation restrictions positively, while 56% (N = 113) viewed them negatively. Among relatives, 41% (N = 82) gave a positive assessment, while 59% (N = 116) expressed dissatisfaction with the restrictions.

Conclusions:
The study found that the hospital visitation ban during the pandemic primarily evoked negative emotions among both patients (56%) and their relatives (59%). Despite the restrictions, most patients and their families maintained daily contact through alternative communication methods, highlighting the need for further development of remote communication options in hospitals. Additionally, hospitals provided effective procedures for delivering personal belongings and sharing information about patients' conditions, which was positively evaluated by respondents. In the future, a more flexible approach to visitations should be considered, for example, allowing visits in exceptional cases.