Effectiveness of structured early mobilization protocol on mobility status of patients in medical intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: Patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU) have limited mobility due to their illness and its management and are at a risk for immobility-related complications. Early mobilization has been suggested to prevent or limit physical dysfunction due to these complications. Effectiveness of early mobilization protocols is studied using various outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of an early mobilization protocol on mobility status of patients in Medical ICU.

METHODS: Patients admitted to Medical ICU were screened for eligibility and allotted into two groups. Intervention group received mobilization according to a protocol while control group received mobilization as per usual mobilization practices in our ICU. Mobility was assessed using the Perme ICU mobility score on the first day of ICU, first day of rehabilitation and last day of rehabilitation.

RESULTS: 63 patients were included in the study. The median difference in the Perme ICU mobility score from first day of rehabilitation to last day of rehabilitation was 9 and 2 in the intervention group and control group respectively. Significant improvements in the mobility scores were not present from first day of ICU to first day of rehabilitation in both, the intervention ( p = .069) and control group ( p = .124). Improvement in the scores from first day of rehabilitation to last day of rehabilitation was significant within and between both the groups ( p < .001).

CONCLUSION: Early Mobilization Protocol was effective in improving mobility status of patients in Medical ICU.