Use of Kinaesthetic in patient mobilization: an evaluation study

Aims and objectives: To examine nurse-experienced effects of using Kinaesthetic for active mobilization of ICU patients in regard to active use of the patients’ movement competences and physical work-related strain for nursing staff. Background: ICU patients often survive with permanently decreased functional levels, both physically and mentally. Active mobilization helps to maintain functional abilities. Kinaesthetic is an educational and supportive method of stimulating and training patients’ movements and their own contribution to mobilization. Design: Mixed methods with semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey. Methods: A four-day Kinaesthetic course was completed by 41 (61%) of ICU nurses between September 2015-March 2017. Semi-structured individual interviews and focus group interviews with course participants and non-participants were conducted, followed by a questionnaire survey between August-November 2017. Results Interviews: Kinaesthetic trainees and course participants found that Kinaesthetic helped to get patients mobilized quicker and more actively. Non-participants generally found Kinaesthetic useful, but often had a “them and us” attitude towards their experience. Questionnaire: A total of 50 (75%) participated. Most of those who had participated on the Kinaesthetic course used their new knowledge often or very often. They now involved the patients in mobilization more than before and mobilization entailed less physical strain for the staff. Nonparticipants had more varied experiences, but the majority still felt that the ICU should continue to focus on Kinaesthetic. Conclusions: Based on nurses’ experiences, Kinaesthetic is a workable method to include patients’ movement competences in mobilising ICU patients. Furthermore, the use of Kinaesthetic may reduce physical work-related strain for nursing staff. Relevance to clinical practice: Initiatives to maintain as many of hospitalized patients’ functional abilities as possible are needed. Using the concepts of Kinaesthetic helps maintaining patients’ movement competences and may be valuable to implement in all units dealing with patient mobilization issues.