Validating the Critical Care Functional Rehabilitation Outcome Measure
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Critical Care Functional Rehabilitation Outcome Measure - A validation study
IRAS ID
188232
Contact name
Paul Twose
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 3 days
Research summary
Patients that become very poorly need treatment in a critical care unit (also known as intensive care unit). During this time they may be attached to a breathing machine (ventilator) and may also be given medications to make them sleep whilst their body recovers. Following their illness, these patients are often weak and are unable to complete their normal daily tasks (e.g. getting out of bed, sitting or standing).
Physiotherapists are involved in aiding patients to recover from this weakness by providing rehabilitation. This is started in critical care and continues when the patient is transferred to a ward. Sometimes this recovery process may be relatively quick (days to weeks) whereas it may take much longer if a patient has been very unwell (weeks to months).
To help recognise how a patient is progressing, physiotherapists often use tests or scales, known as ‘outcome measures’. Outcome measures help the physiotherapist to demonstrate whether a treatment is being effective. To aid this process, physiotherapists must ensure that the outcome measure being used is appropriate (valid) and that it can be accurately repeated on several occasions (reliable).
Previous research by the chief invesigator developed an outcome measure which was shown to be both valid and reliable. However, this research only involved a low number of participants and therefore further research is required to confirm the appropriateness of the tool and to ensure its reliability.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
16/WA/0005
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion