Effect of Family Involvement in Patient Care on Preventing Intensive Care Units Acquired Weakness

Nasr Abd-elsamea Mohamed Nasr, Nora; Elsayed Abdelmotalb, Suad; Abdallah Attia Elsaid Elhanafy, Amer

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.187655

Effect of Family Involvement in Patient Care on Preventing Intensive Care Units Acquired Weakness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Critical care and Emergency Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt

² Anesthesia, Critical care and Emergency Medicine Department, Mansoura University, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2021.187655

Abstract

Background: The Intensive care units acquired weakness detected in 30 to 50% of
ICU patients leading to high morbidity and complication, family engaging family in early
mobility process that reported benefits including reduced ICU-acquired weakness, improved
functional recovery within the hospital, improved walking distance at hospital discharge and
reduced hospital length of stay. This study aimed to Determine the effect of family
involvement in patient care on preventing intensive care units acquired weakness. Methods:
Quasi experimental research was conducted in surgical and general ICUs in the main
Mansoura university and emergency hospitals, which included 60 adult newly ICU admitted
patients. Tools: Three tools were used to collect the data of this study namely “Intensive care
unit acquired weakness assessment”, “Early progressive mobility protocol” and “Patients’
family satisfaction with early mobility protocol involvement”. Results: Only 6.7% of the
intervention group had a weakness at the end of the study with no significant difference
(0.150) was found in muscle strength from the start and end of the study. While about a third
of the control group (26.7%) had a weakness at the end of the study. A statistically
significant difference (0.038) in muscle strength was found between intervention and control
group. Furthermore, About two-thirds (70%) of patients' family members of the intervention
group were satisfied by giving them a role in participation in their patient care. Conclusion:
Critically ill patients whose families were involved in their mobility protocol had less
intensive care units acquired weakness rates than those who were not. Recommendation:
Evaluation of muscle strength should be a routine part of ICU examination. Family centered
care concept should be adopted in ICUs by allocating them in daily activities involvement
with enough support and cooperation

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