Respiratory Therapists’ Barriers to Implementing ICU Early Mobility: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background:

Implementation of early mobility in the ICU as part of routine clinical may involve many challenges and difficulties. This study aims to determine the barriers and facilitators of ICU early mobilization from respiratory therapist’s point of view.

Methods:

This is a qualitative research study which utilized structured interviews with respiratory therapists (RTs) and supervisors from 4 hospitals in KSA, Riyadh City. Grounded theory was used to analyze the results and produce themes for the interviews. The interview consists of questions about barriers and facilitators of early mobility. Inclusion criteria: All RTs and respiratory therapy supervisors. Exclusion criteria: RTs with less than 2 years of experience.

Results:

A total of 20 RTs were interviewed (Table 1). The common themes of barriers mainly involve unstable patient condition, staff shortage, lack of equipment, and lack of perception about importance of early mobilization. The interviewed RTs identified increasing the awareness of early mobilization, education and training, establishing a multidisciplinary mobilization team, and availability of portable equipment as facilitators of ICU mobilization (Figure 1).

Conclusions:

The participating RTs were aware of early mobility benefits; the majority of them had a high positive attitude towards its implementation in the ICU. Various barriers to early mobilization have been identified, and different solution and facilitators were proposed by RTs that can implemented to overcome difficulties of ICU mobility. The most important of these was staffing, and creating a specialized team for ICU mobilization.