Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Indian Physiotherapists Towards Early Mobilization of Patients with Intercostal Drain

INTRODUCTION: Intercostal Drains (ICDs) are used to reinflate the lung and drain air, pleural fluid, or blood collected in the pleural or mediastinal regions.(1,2) ICDs cause pain, restrict mobility, and impair pulmonary function, presenting significant barriers to early mobilization (EM).(2–4) EM requires careful coordination among healthcare providers, making it a multidisciplinary approach, of which physiotherapists are an integral part.(3) OBJECTIVES: To assess and determine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of physiotherapists practicing in India towards early mobilization of patients with intercostal drain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethical approvals were obtained from Institutional Research and Ethics Committees and the study was registered in Clinical Trial Registry-India. In this cross-sectional survey study, the KAP questionnaire was developed and validated by experts in the field. The questionnaire consists of 16 questions including demographic details and on the domains of knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards patients with intercostal drain. The questionnaire was circulated via mail with a Google Forms link (n = 1282). Study participants are physiotherapists, practicing in India, with at least one year of experience in ICU setup. This is an ongoing study, where data will be collected till January 2025. RESULTS: Interim analysis was carried out on the data collected. Eighty-five responses have been received from ten states of India. The population had the highest number of MPT (50.6%), followed by BPT (40%) and then PhD (pursuing/completed- 7.1%/2.4% respectively). The average number of patients with intercostal drain being seen was 12–13 patients per month. A positive attitude towards early mobilization of these patients was seen with 81.2% of the population stating that EM should start within 24-48 hours post-operatively while agreeing that physiotherapists are solely responsible for early mobilization of patients with intercostal drain (52.9%). Adequate knowledge was seen regarding identifying and preventing potential complications with physiotherapists prioritizing haemodynamic stability, drain function, tube integrity, site inspection, and patient readiness before mobilizing a patient with an intercostal drain. CONCLUSIONS: Indian physiotherapists demonstrate adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards early mobilization. Effective EM often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure safety and comprehensive patient care.