Effects of early mobilisation in the functional rehabilitation of critically ill patients: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Early mobilisation has been considered as an intervention capable of modifying risk factors for morbidity, with an impact on the functional rehabilitation of critically ill patients. Objective: To determine the effects of early mobilisation in the functional rehabilitation of patients admitted to intensive care units. Review method: Using the PICO strategy, a systematic review was conducted of full-text scientific articles on adults admitted to intensive care units who underwent early mobilisation and published between 2003 and 2003. The search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Controlled Trial Database, Elsevier, LILACS, British Nursing Index and SciELO, and in scientific journals of reference and citations of the selected articles. Tools for methodological quality assessment were used in the final analysis of the studies. Interpretation of results: The six studies identified show that early mobilisation may facilitate the functional rehabilitation of these patients, promoting muscle strength gains and increased participation in the activities of daily living. Conclusion: Further studies using the same assessment tools and demonstrating the interest of this intervention for the Nursing discipline are needed.