Patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are at great risk of muscle atrophy and neuromuscular complications, that could lead to respiratory complications, decreased physical functioning and deteriorated health related quality of life. The objective is to investigate if extended physical therapy in a general ward could lead to increased physical functioning for post-ICU patients.The study hypothesis is that extended physical therapy would lead to increased physical function at hospital discharge compared to standard amount of physical therapy.
The study design is a before and after study. A control group was included for three months and received standard amount of physical therapy at surgical wards, corresponding to 1.75 employment. An intervention group was then included for six months and received extended amount of physical therapy corresponding to an extra 0.5 employment for study participants (2-4 patients/day). The primary outcome was physical function measured with the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx), in the ICU and the surgical ward.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
At admission to the surgical ward after ICU care, participants received an individual rehabilitation plan developed in collaboration with the participants and the ward-based physiotherapist. The rehabilitation plan included specified exercises for 1- 2 sessions of approximately 30 minutes a day. For example breathing exercises, practicing transfer in and out of bed and from sitting to standing, stairclimbing, and walking with or without walking aids.
Stockholm South General Hospital
Stockholm, Sweden
Changes in physical function according to Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx)
Measures physical function in critically ill patients
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks per participant
Feasibility of intervention
Number of planned interventions not delivered, and number of safety events.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks per participant
Length of stay at the ward
Number of days at the hospital ward after ICU discharge
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks per participant
Readmission to ICU
Number of readmissions to ICU from ward, within each study group
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 weeks per participant
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