Physiotherapists perceived that CABG patients experienced significantly higher pain after physiotherapy sessions compared with before (p < 0.01), though 90% believed pain was well managed.
Cross-Sectional (n=41)
Yes
What is the current mobility and walking management by physiotherapists of uncomplicated CABG patients in Australia and New Zealand?
This survey highlights that physiotherapists in Australia and New Zealand perceive general fatigue, rather than pain, as the primary limiting factor for walking distance in uncomplicated CABG patients.
Background: This study aimed to determine current mobility and walking management by physiotherapists of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the clinical milestones expected and physiotherapists’ perception of the severity of pain experienced by patients after surgery. Design: Cross sectional study using a questionnaire. Methods: All hospitals in Australia and New Zealand that perform cardiac surgery (n = 54) were invited to complete a questionnaire. Findings: Forty-one questionnaires were returned and analysed (response rate 76%). Walking distance was a clinical milestone after CABG surgery. Walking and transferring patients from bed to chair required the most time of physiotherapists during one treatment session. Physiotherapists perceived that patients experienced most pain on day one after surgery mean (SD) visual analogue scale (VAS) 41 (16) mm and this reduced by day four to VAS 15 (10) mm. Patients’ pain was perceived to be significantly higher after physiotherapy sessions compared with before (p < 0.01). Thirty-seven respondents (90%) believed that patients’ pain was well managed for physiotherapy treatments. A majority of the respondents (68%) believed that pain was not a limiting factor in the distance patients walked in a physiotherapy session and most (90%) believed that general fatigue limited walk distance. Conclusion: This research provides current mobility and walking management by physiotherapists of patients undergoing CABG surgery in Australia and New Zealand.
Hong et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Physiotherapy management of CABG surgery patients (n=41). Physiotherapy mobility and walking management was evaluated on Current mobility and walking management, clinical milestones, and perception of pain severity. Physiotherapists perceived that CABG patients experienced significantly higher pain after physiotherapy sessions compared with before (p < 0.01), though 90% believed pain was well managed.