Early mobilisation in intensive care during renal replacement therapy: A quality improvement project

Abstract

ObjectiveTo improve mobility for patients undergoing renal replacement therapy within intensive care. DesignA quality improvement study utilising a step-wise mobility protocol within a before-and-after audit design. SettingTwenty-four bed Trauma/Surgical intensive care unit within a level one trauma and academic centre. Main outcomeImprovement of compliance to the mobility plan following introduction of a step-wise mobility protocol. ResultsA total of fifty-six renal replacement therapy patients were measured on a randomly selected day each week during the nine month before-and-after protocol audit period. Before introducing the protocol, compliance to mobility was 12.5%, compared to 62.5% after the protocol was introduced. There were no identified negative outcomes, such as catheter loss, filter loss or bleeding, associated with mobilising these patients following implementation of the protocol. ConclusionThe use of a step-wise mobility protocol was effective and safe strategy to increase mobility in the renal replacement therapy patient population.