Critical care nurses' and physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviors in mobilizing older adult patients: implications for optimizing geriatric care.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding older adult patients' mobilization from the perspectives of critical care nurses (CCNs) and physicians.

Methods: The researchers employed a cross-sectional study design following the STROBE guidelines. A total of 136 CCNs and 64 physicians completed an online electronic survey. This single-center study utilized the PMABS-ICU questionnaire and adopted a convenience sampling method.

Results: Two hundred voluntary participants were involved in our study. The mean (SD) of the overall barrier score for CCNs was 113.16(16.7), significantly higher than the 107.75(10.9) reported by physicians (P = 0.007). The mean (SD) attitude in CCNs was 26.75(5.00), which was of higher significance (p = 0.000) than physicians at 23.56(4.78). CCNs had a higher total mean (SD) behavior subscale, 45.22(11.20), than physicians, 44.39(4.79), with no statistically significant differences between them (p = 0.461). There was a moderate positive correlation between the overall score and subscale knowledge (p = 0.000), attitude (p = 0.000), and behavior (p = 0.000).

Conclusion: CCNs reported that barriers to older adult patients' mobility were perceived as higher than physicians. Safety fears and anticipation regarding falling can hinder CCNs' initial attempts to promote the mobility of older adult patients, while physicians perceive time constraints as a hurdle.

Implications for practice: Mobility barriers among older adult patients in ICUs were reported to be higher among CCNs than physicians, with fear of injury and safety concerns being the most significant barriers.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.