Inventory and evaluation of professional practices concerning early rehabilitation and the use of a tilt table for high-risk patients of acquired weakness in French Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective : The aim of our study is to review the different practices in early rehabilitation especially the use of the tilt table in intensive care units and continuing care units in France and overseas.

Method : An interprofessional multicentric descriptive study was carried out by means a survey. The participants were mainly contacted by e-mail. A flat analysis was then performed.

Results : One hundred and twenty participants responded to the survey (participation rate of 51.7%). Two thirds of the participants (61%) had no initial training in early rehabilitation. In 74% of cases, rehabilitation was prescribed by a doctor. In 53% of cases, it was started within the first 24 to 48 hours, mainly by putting the patient in a chair (97%) or by respiratory physiotherapy (95%). As for the tilt table, 52% of respondents used it at least monthly. Few side effects were mentioned. 81% of the device equipped participants consider it as treatment choice.

Conclusion : In French, health professionals are poorly trained in early rehabilitation. The tilt table, though a gold standard treatment, is not widely used, probably due to a lack of training, human resources and scientific data.