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Table 1 A comparison of the physiotherapy service provided during usual-care and protocol-care condition periods

From: The way in which a physiotherapy service is structured can improve patient outcome from a surgical intensive care: a controlled clinical trial

 

Usual care

Protocol care

P

Organization of service

Percentage of therapy sessions provided over a weekend

10%

21%

<0.001

Rate of therapy sessions/patient/ICU day

0.57

1.38

<0.001

Duration of individual therapy session in minutes (mean ± SD)

23 ± 7

22 ± 11

0.94

Time (hours) from unit admission to first contact with therapist (mean ± SD)

27 ± 20

14 ± 7

<0.001

Content of sessions

Percentage of therapy sessions that included techniques to remove bronchial secretions (suction; cough)

75%

35%

<0.001

Percentage of therapy sessions that included deep-breathing exercises

16%

34%

<0.001

Percentage of therapy sessions that included techniques to mobilize patient (passive/active/away from bed)

66%

82%

<0.001

Percentage of therapy sessions that included techniques to mobilize bronchial secretions (manual techniques; manual hyperinflation; vibromat)

52%

10%

<0.001

Percentage of therapy sessions that included techniques to improve pulmonary volumes (DBE; IPPB; PEP; recruitment)

39%

39%

0.96

Inclusion of rehabilitation management option; Odds ratio, 95% CI

2.34 (1.66 to 3.43)

<0.001

Inclusion of chest physiotherapy management option; Odds ratio, 95% CI

0.14 (0.09 to 0.22)

<0.001

  1. CI, confidence interval; DBE, deep-breathing exercise; IPPB, intermittent positive-pressure breathing; PEP, positive expiratory pressure; SD, standard deviation.