# Current Rehabilitation Practices of Physiotherapists in Intensive Care Units in the UAE: A National Survey

## TL;DR

This study surveys physiotherapists in UAE ICUs to understand current rehabilitation practices and highlights the need for standardized protocols.

## Contribution

The study provides a national overview of ICU physiotherapy practices in the UAE and identifies gaps in standardization.

## Key findings

- Most physiotherapists require physician referrals for ICU sessions and commonly use respiratory therapy and joint mobilization.
- There is a lack of standardized protocols, with varied practices among physiotherapists in the UAE.
- Parental involvement in neonatal ICU treatment is common, but interventions like taping are rarely used.

## Abstract

Intensive care units (ICUs) are essential for patient recovery, but prolonged stays often result in complications like reduced mobility and muscle weakness.

This study examines current ICU rehabilitation practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a web-based cross-sectional survey involving 80 physiotherapists from both public and private sectors.

The questionnaire, validated by experts with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, explored various rehabilitation strategies. Most participants held bachelor’s degrees and had 2-5 years of experience.

Over 96% required physician referrals for ICU physiotherapy sessions, and 75% noted that hospitals provided development programs to enhance skills. Respiratory therapy, joint mobilization, and electrical stimulation were the most commonly used interventions, while massage, continuous passive motion machines, and taping were less frequently applied. Among neonatal ICU patients, 85.7% of physiotherapists regularly performed passive range of motion exercises, and 69% consistently involved parents in the treatment plan. The results indicate a variety of practices among ICU physiotherapists in the UAE, with no clear adherence to standardized protocols. This lack of consistency may negatively affect patient care quality.

The study underscores the importance of implementing standardized rehabilitation protocols and enhancing patient education to improve outcomes in ICU settings.