Mobility in a cardiac surgery intensive care unit: A behaviour mapping study

Mobilization within 24 h post-cardiac surgery (CS) supports improved patient health outcomes. Despite being safe and recommended, it is unknown how much mobility takes place post-CS in the intensive care unit (ICU). Behaviour mapping was used to describe patterns of patients' mobility in one CS ICU.

Behaviour mapping gathers information on behaviour regularly over a time period. Two authors observed one CS ICU over a sixteen-hour period (0630-2230 h) on four days. Observers collected data on patients' mobility mode, location, and support at 15-minute intervals. Data aggregated into four-hour time blocks is described.

A total of 1342 observations were collected over four days: 487 of mode, 485 of location, and 370 of support. Sitting in a chair was observed 430 of 487 observations, 10-fold more than any other mode of mobility. Mobility within the ICU room was observed in 448 of 485 observations. Family support for mobility was observed in 178 of 370 observations. The most common time block for mobilization was from 0630 to 1030, with 488 of 1342 observations.

Research is required to support the integration of early mobility beyond sitting in a chair supported by more team members into local CS ICU clinical care.

The existence of early mobility protocols does not mean that they are operational in the CS ICU. Integration of these protocols into CS ICU clinical care requires collaboration among researchers and clinicians.