This study aims to assess the current status and challenges of intensive care physiotherapy education at our hospital.
We retrospectively collected data from electronic medical records on ICU rehabilitation, including the development of a system to increase the number of dedicated ICU physiotherapists, intervention structures, and educational content. Additionally, a survey on educational experiences was conducted among ICU physiotherapists.
Our ICU, consisting of 8 beds, mainly serves departments such as cardiovascular surgery, cardiology, and neurosurgery. Over a three-month period, 132 patients were admitted, with a mean age of 70.9 ± 13.6 years and an average length of stay of 4.6 ± 2.9 days. Post-operative patients accounted for 49.0% of admissions, and 54.4% received physiotherapy interventions. Since 2018, we have established a team of dedicated physiotherapists, and their numbers have steadily increased. Currently, four physiotherapists operate on a rotational system, and in 2024, we extended interventions to include the emergency ICU. Educational programs consist of daily conferences, rounds, inter-therapist meetings, on-the-job training, workshops, certification exams, and self-study. According to the survey, physiotherapists found a lack of knowledge and assessment skills more challenging than performing interventions. Clinical experience was identified as crucial, but time constraints were not considered the main issue. Instead, non-clinical duties, the unstructured educational system, and the complexity of required knowledge were the primary barriers.
Our hospital has successfully established a structured system for ICU physiotherapy, steadily increasing the number of dedicated staff while focusing on training the next generation of specialists. Nevertheless, physiotherapists face difficulties in acquiring essential knowledge and assessment skills, compounded by challenges in self-study and the educational environment. Further efforts are needed to address non-clinical duty management and to develop a more comprehensive educational system.
The realization of sustainable intensive care rehabilitation hinges on a robust educational framework tailored to each facility's characteristics. This study serves as an initial model for building such a system to foster the next generation of specialists.
Education System
Sustainability
