Dr. Taisuke Yasaka, PhD, RN, PHN Project Assistant Professor in Department of Nursing Data Science
This Japanese cross-sectional study, conducted in 2019, investigated rehabilitation practices in intensive care units (ICUs) for all inpatients, not just those on mechanical ventilation or with respiratory failure. The authors found that 40% of patients did not receive any rehabilitation on the survey day. In addition, half of the patients who stayed in the ICU for more than two days did not begin rehabilitation within the first two days of admission. After accounting for patient characteristics, a higher level of rehabilitation was linked to the active participation of ICU physicians in the care of all ICU patients. However, the presence of specialized staff such as physical therapists or critical care nurses were not associated the outcome. These findings, based on a 2019 survey, suggest that ICU rehabilitation in Japan may still be insufficient. Future studies should examine how specific provider roles and team activities can better support rehabilitation practices.
Access the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.53044/jinr.2024-0027