Minimum standards of clinical practice for physiotherapists working in critical care settings in the United Kingdom: A modified Delphi technique. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Twose, Paul; Jones, Una; Cornell, Gareth
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Intensive Care Society. Volume 20:Number 2(2019:May)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Critical care -- on-call -- physiotherapy -- minimum standards; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; Intensive care units -- Periodicals; 616.028
• DOI: 10.1177/1751143718807019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-1437

Abstract

Introduction: Across the United Kingdom, physiotherapy for critical care patients is provided 24 h a day, 7 days per week. There is a national drive to standardise the knowledge and skills of physiotherapists which will support training and reduce variability in clinical practice. Methods: A modified Delphi technique using a questionnaire was used. The questionnaire, originally containing 214 items, was completed over three rounds. Items with no consensus were included in later rounds along with any additional items suggested. Results: In all, 114 physiotherapists from across the United Kingdom participated in the first round, with 102 and 92 completing rounds 2 and 3, respectively. In total, 224 items were included: 107 were deemed essential as a minimum standard of clinical practice; 83 were not essential and consensus was not reached for 34 items. Analysis/Conclusion: This study identified 107 items of knowledge and skills that are essential as a minimum standard for clinical practice by physiotherapists working in United Kingdom critical care units.