Physiotherapists' and Physiotherapy Assistants' Perspectives on Using Three Physical Function Measures in the...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Assessment
• Intensive Care Unit Management

Background:

• Physical function measures are crucial for assessing patient progress in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Understanding clinician perspectives is vital for effective implementation of these measures.
• Limited research exists on healthcare professionals' views regarding ICU-specific physical function assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore physiotherapists' and physiotherapist assistants' perspectives on three physical function measures used in the ICU.
• To identify key themes influencing the adoption and utility of these measures in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach involving a six-item questionnaire and a semi-structured focus group.
• Participants included physiotherapists and physiotherapist assistants in adult ICUs at a U.S. teaching hospital.
• Data analysis focused on questionnaire responses and qualitative themes from the focus group.

Main Results:

• Favorable perspectives were reported regarding the use of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care Inpatient Mobility Short Form, Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale, and Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit.
• Five themes emerged: ease of scoring, inter-professional communication utility, general ease of use, responsiveness to change, and generalizability.
• Ease of scoring and usefulness in communication were the most frequently discussed themes.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians generally hold positive views on the selected physical function measures for ICU use.
• Ease of scoring and communication utility are critical factors for selecting and designing effective physical function measures in the ICU.
• These findings can inform the development and implementation of standardized physical function assessments in critical care settings.