Minimum standards of clinical practice for physiotherapists working in critical care settings in the United Kingdom: A modified Delphi technique

Across the United Kingdom, physiotherapy for critical care patients is provided 24 h a day, 7 days per week. There is a national drive to standardise the knowledge and skills of physiotherapists which will support training and reduce variability in clinical practice.

A modified Delphi technique using a questionnaire was used. The questionnaire, originally containing 214 items, was completed over three rounds. Items with no consensus were included in later rounds along with any additional items suggested.

In all, 114 physiotherapists from across the United Kingdom participated in the first round, with 102 and 92 completing rounds 2 and 3, respectively. In total, 224 items were included: 107 were deemed essential as a minimum standard of clinical practice; 83 were not essential and consensus was not reached for 34 items.

This study identified 107 items of knowledge and skills that are essential as a minimum standard for clinical practice by physiotherapists working in United Kingdom critical care units.