Therefore we studied which factors influence early mobilization, how healthcare professionals deal with them, and how active patients actually are. The results show that, in addition to common ICU barriers like sedation and instability, pain and skin vulnerability play a significant role in burn patients. Furthermore, healthcare professionals differ in their views on when to begin early mobilization and which activities are safe at what time.
The recorded physical activity of ICU burn patients shows large variations. In particular, the number of position changes—for example, from lying to sitting—varies per patient. Surgeries also significantly impact patient activity.
The main conclusion of the PhD research of Yvonne Dikkema is that early mobilization has no set course. It requires daily, interdisciplinary coordination tailored to what the patient can handle at that moment (load tolerance). Since reliable methods to measure this load tolerance are still lacking, close collaboration within the care team is essential.
