Background: Involvement of families in physiotherapy-related tasks of critically ill patients could be beneficial for both patients and their family. Before designing an intervention regarding family participation in the physiotherapy-related care of critically ill patients, there is a need to investigate the opinions of critically ill patients, their family and staff members in detail. Objective: Exploring the perceptions of critically ill patients, their family and staff members regarding family participation in physiotherapy-related tasks of critically ill patients and the future intervention. Methods: A multicenter study with a qualitative design is presented. Semistructured interviews were conducted with critically ill patients, family and intensive care staff members, until theoretical saturation was reached. The conventional content method was used for data analyses. Results: Altogether 18 interviews were conducted between May 2019 and February 2020. In total, 22 participants were interviewed: four patients, five family members, and 13 ICU staff members. Six themes emerged: 1) prerequisites for family participation (e.g., permission and capability); 2) timing and interactive aspects of engaging family (e.g., communication); 3) eligibility of patients and family (e.g., first-degree relatives and spouses, and long stay patients); 4) suitability of physiotherapyrelated tasks for family (e.g., passive, active and breathing exercises); 5) expected effects (e.g., physical recovery and psychological wellbeing); and 6) barriers and facilitators, which may affect the feasibility (e.g., safety, privacy, and responsibility). Conclusion: Patients, family members and staff members supported the idea of increased family participation in physiotherapy-related tasks and suggested components of an intervention. These findings are necessary to further design and investigate family participation in physiotherapyrelated tasks.
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BACKGROUND: Early mobilization has been proven effective for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) to improve functional recovery. However, early mobilization of critically ill, often mechanically ventilated, patients is cumbersome because of the attachment to tubes, drains, monitoring devices and muscle weakness. A mobile treadmill with bodyweight support may help to initiate mobilization earlier and more effectively. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of weight-supported treadmill training in critically ill patients during and after ICU stay on time to independent functional ambulation. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, a custom-built bedside body weight-supported treadmill will be used and evaluated. Patients are included if they have been mechanically ventilated for at least 48 hours, are able to follow instructions, have quadriceps muscle strength of Medical Research Council sum-score 2 (MRC 2) or higher, can sit unsupported and meet the safety criteria for physical exercise. Exclusion criteria are language barriers, no prior walking ability, contraindications for physiotherapy or a neurological condition as reason for ICU admission. We aim to include 88 patients and randomize them into either the intervention or the control group. The intervention group will receive usual care plus bodyweight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) daily. The BWSSTT consists of walking on a mobile treadmill while supported by a harness. The control group will receive usual care physiotherapy treatment daily consisting of progressive activities such as bed-cycling and active functional training exercises. In both groups, we will aim for a total of 40 minutes of physiotherapy treatment time every day in one or two sessions, as tolerated by the patient. The primary outcome is time to functional ambulation as measured in days, secondary outcomes include walking distance, muscle strength, status of functional mobility and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. All measurements will be done by assessors who are blinded to the intervention on the regular wards until hospital discharge. DISCUSSION: This will be the first study comparing the effects of BWSTT and conventional physiotherapy for critically ill patients during and after ICU stay. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of early physiotherapy interventions for critically ill patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register (NTR) ID: NL6766. Registered at 1 December 2017.
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Background: To avoid overexertion in critically ill patients, information on the physical demand, i.e., metabolic load, of daily care and active exercises is warranted. Objective: The objective of this study was toassess the metabolic load during morning care activities and active bed exercises in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. Methods: This study incorporated an explorative observational study executed in a university hospital intensive care unit. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured in mechanically ventilated (≥48 h) critically ill patients during rest, routine morning care, and active bed exercises. We aimed to describe and compare VO2 in terms of absolute VO2 (mL) defined as the VO2 attributable to the activity and relative VO2 in mL per kilogram bodyweight, per minute (mL/kg/min). Additional outcomes achieved during the activity were perceived exertion, respiratory variables, and the highest VO2 values. Changes in VO2 and activity duration were tested using paired tests. Results: Twenty-one patients were included with a mean (standard deviation) age of 59 y (12). Median (interquartile range [IQR]) durations of morning care and active bed exercises were 26 min (21–29) and 7 min (5–12), respectively. Absolute VO2 of morning care was significantly higher than that of active bed exercises (p = 0,009). Median (IQR) relative VO2 was 2.9 (2.6–3.8) mL/kg/min during rest; 3.1 (2.8–3.7) mL/kg/min during morning care; and 3.2 (2.7–4) mL/kg/min during active bed exercises. The highest VO2 value was 4.9 (4.2–5.7) mL/kg/min during morning care and 3.7 (3.2–5.3) mL/kg/min during active bed exercises. Median (IQR) perceived exertion on the 6–20 Borg scale was 12 (10.3–14.5) during morning care (n = 8) and 13.5 (11–15) during active bed exercises (n = 6). Conclusion: Absolute VO2 in mechanically ventilated patients may be higher during morning care than during active bed exercises due to the longer duration of the activity. Intensive care unit clinicians should be aware that daily-care activities may cause intervals of high metabolic load and high ratings of perceived exertion.
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