A best evidence synthesis in practicing early active movements in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation

This study summarized the best evidence of early active movements in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU and applied it in the intensive care unit of our hospital to evaluate the practical effects.

The best evidence for early activity in patients with mechanical ventilation in the ICU was summarized by using an evidence-based nursing method, and the results were clinically applied in the ICU. Patients who were mechanically ventilated in the ICU from January to March 2020 were selected as the control-group, and their counterparts from April to June 2020 were enrolled as the practice-group. The control-group-patients received conventional early active mobilities, and the practice-group-patients performed the best evidence-based early active mobilities. The Barthel index, muscle strength, duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay between the two groups were compared.

The scores of Barthel index and muscle strength of the practice group were remarkably higher than those of the control group, and the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were obviously shorter than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in practice group was substantially lower than that in control group (P<0.05), and the incidence of ICU acquired weakness in in practice group was critically lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The anxiety and depression scores of the two groups post-intervention were remarkably less than those before intervention (P<0.05), and the observation group had apparently lower scores than the control group (P<0.05).

The application of the best evidence of early active movement in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation can improve the daily life ability, promote the recovery of muscle strength, reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and ICU acquired weakness, decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU hospital stay, thereby improving the clinical outcomes.