Barriers to Early Mobilization in Palestinian ICUs: A Cross‐Sectional Study of Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

Introduction Early mobilization (EM) in intensive care units (ICUs) improves patient outcomes, such as reducing ICU‐acquired weakness, shortening mechanical ventilation, and decreasing hospital stays. However, its implementation is suboptimal, especially in resource‐limited settings like Palestine, where challenges like limited physiotherapist availability, staffing shortages, and high nurse–patient ratios prevail. This study aimed to evaluate barriers related to nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding EM in Palestinian ICUs. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to May 2024 with 159 ICU nurses across eight hospitals in the South West Bank, Palestine. Data were collected using Hoyer et al.’s validated scale to assess knowledge (4 items), attitudes (9 items), and behaviors (13 items) on a 5‐point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including ANOVA, were performed using SPSS. Results The response rate was 96.4% (159/165). Participants were mostly young (57.2% ≤ 25 years), male (59.7%), and had bachelor’s degrees (56.0%). Knowledge deficits ( M = 3.9 ± 0.7) were the most significant barrier, followed by behavioral ( M = 3.3 ± 0.3) and attitudinal barriers ( M = 2.8 ± 0.5). Age influenced knowledge ( F = 3.6, p < 0.05), while higher education ( F = 4.8, p < 0.05), and more work experience ( F = 4.9, p < 0.05) correlated with better attitudes. Post hoc analysis showed nurses with master’s degrees or ≥ 6 years of experience had significantly better attitudes toward EM ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Knowledge gaps, particularly among younger and less‐educated nurses, are a primary barrier to EM in Palestinian ICUs. Addressing these gaps through structured educational interventions, locally adapted standardized protocols, and ongoing mentorship programs is essential for improving EM adoption in low‐resource settings. Furthermore, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration and investing in adequate resources are critical steps that can improve EM adoption and patient outcomes in low‐resource critical care settings.