Table 5.
The Practice of the ICU Regarding Early Mobilization, Based on Answers Given by Respondents
| I. Techniques of Early Mobilization in Non-Collaborative Critically Ill Patients with an Artificial Airway | Nursing Staff Number (%) | Physiotherapists Number (%) | P-value* |
| Perform positioning of the patients in bed (passive turning and moving in the bed) | |||
| • Regularly performed | 38 (37.6) | 0 (0.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Occasionally performed | 59 (58.4) | 17 (56.7) | 0.86 |
| • Never performed | 4 (4.0) | 13 (43.3) | 0.0003 |
| Perform in-bed passive range of motions of all extremities in all physiological directions | |||
| • Regularly performed | 24 (23.7) | 3 (10.0) | 0.1 |
| • Occasionally performed | 41 (40.7) | 24 (80.0) | 0.0002 |
| • Never performed | 36 (35.6) | 3 (10.0) | 0.007 |
| Perform passive vertical mobilization (tilting table, upright position) | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 35 (34.6) | 13 (43.3) | 0.38 |
| • Never performed | 66 (65.4) | 17 (56.7) | |
| Perform passive transfer of the patient out of bed in a rehabilitation chair | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 10 (9.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.07 |
| • Never performed | 91 (90.1) | 30 (100.0) | |
| II. Techniques of early mobilization in collaborative patients without an artificial airway | Nursing Staff Number (%) | Physiotherapists Number (%) | P-value* |
| Assist patients to perform active movement exercises in the supine position with manual support | |||
| • Regularly performed | 0 (0.0) | 30 (100.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Never performed | 101 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Assist patients to take independent mobilization in bed (sitting down upright, turning) | |||
| • Regularly performed | 81 (80.2) | 7 (23.3) | < 0.0001 |
| • Occasionally performed | 15 (14.8) | 13 (43.3) | 0.0009 |
| • Never performed | 5 (5.0) | 10 (33.4) | < 0.0001 |
| Assist patients to sit on the edge of the bed with their feet hanging | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 42 (41.6) | 30 (100.0) | 0.63 |
| • Never performed | 59 (58.5) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Assist patients to transfer out of bed in a rehabilitation chair | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 42 (41.6) | 18 (60.0) | 0.0001 |
| • Never performed | 59 (58.5) | 12 (40.0) | |
| Assist patients attempting to stand up, stand outside the bed, marching on the spot, walking exercises while standing (standing frame) | |||
| • Regularly performed | 13 (12.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.03 |
| • Occasionally performed | 0 (0.0) | 18 (60.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Never performed | 88 (87.1) | 12 (40.0) | < 0.0001 |
| Assist patients walking away from the bed with and without walking aids (standing frame) | |||
| • Regularly performed | 60 (59.4) | 0 (0.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Occasionally performed | 10 (9.9) | 12 (40.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Never performed | 31 (30.7) | 18 (60.0) | 0.003 |
| III. Techniques of early mobilization in collaborative patients with an artificial airway | Nursing Staff Number (%) | Physiotherapists Number (%) | P-value* |
| Assist patients to perform active movement exercises in the supine position with manual support | |||
| • Regularly performed | 0 (0.0) | 15 (50.0) | < 0.0001 |
| • Never performed | 101 (100.0) | 15 (50.0) | |
| Assist patients to take independent mobilization in bed (sitting down upright, turning) | |||
| • Regularly performed | 81 (80.2) | 7 (23.3) | < 0.0001 |
| • Occasionally performed | 15 (14.8) | 13 (43.3) | 0.0009 |
| • Never performed | 5 (5.0) | 10 (33.4) | < 0.0001 |
| Assist patients to sit on the edge of the bed with their feet hanging | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 10 (9.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.07 |
| • Never performed | 91 (90.1) | 30 (100.0) | |
| Assist patients to transfer out of bed in a rehabilitation chair | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 10 (9.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.07 |
| • Never performed | 91 (90.1) | 30 (100.0) | |
| Assist patients to perform chair exercise | |||
| • Never performed | 101 (100.0) | 30 (100.0) | NS |
| Assist patients to ambulate and walk with a portable ventilator | |||
| • Occasionally performed | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.3) | 0.06 |
| • Never performed | 101 (100.0) | 29 (96.7) |
Notes: *Chi-square test used for associations between frequencies of the involvement of nursing staff and physiotherapists in the procedures of early mobilization of the critically ill patients.
Abbreviation: NS, Non-significant.