Healthcare clinical trials

Strengths and Weaknesses of Physiotherapy in the Daily Work of an Intensive Care Unit

Background. A stay in the Intensive Care Unit can cause long-term problems and physiological changes at the neuromuscular and respiratory levels in critically ill patients. Early physiotherapy in these patients is safe and feasible to avoid or reduce the adverse musculoskeletal and respiratory effects of the stay in this hospital unit. Objective. To identify the strengths and barriers of Physiotherapy in an Intensive Care Unit, according to the vision of different Health Science professionals. Method. Qualitative observational study using individual interviews and focus groups. 18 people (6 doctors, 6 nurses and 6 physiotherapists) will be included in the study. The 18 health professionals will participate in personal interviews and focus groups (3 focus groups with 6 participants each). Participants will be recruited from the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Data will be analysed using the thematic analysis approach according to Braun and Clarke's method. We will use face-to-face interviews and focus groups to collect data and analyse them through thematic analysis. Purposive sampling will be used to recruit our participants. We will continue to recruit participants, if necessary, until saturation of data from the thematic analysis is reached. Expected outcomes. To assess the knowledge, perceptions and expectations of the healthcare staff in the Intensive Care Unit regarding Physiotherapy in the management of patients admitted to this Unit. To identify the strengths of Physiotherapy in the management of these patients.