Exercise After Intensive Care Unit: a Randomised Controlled Trial

Summary

The purpose of this study is to test if a 6-week programme of exercise improves physical function and health related quality of life in patients following intensive care who are discharged from hospital. In this study the investigators will compare the physical function and health related quality of life of patients who attend the programme with patients who do not. The 6 week exercise programme will be run by physiotherapy staff, and will mostly take place in a hospital gym. The investigators will measure patients' physical function, exercise capacity, level of breathlessness and their quality of life before and after the 6-week programme, and 6 months later. The investigators will also interview patients to ask their views about the acceptability, enjoyment and satisfaction with the exercise programme. If this study shows that the physical function and health related quality of life are improved in those who took part in the exercise programme, then it will provide useful information which will help the development of services for patients after critical illness. The results will also provide information which will help us design future clinical trials for this patient population.

Conditions

• Critical Illness
• Intensive Care

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise Programme

Patients will complete three exercise sessions per week (2 supervised and 1 unsupervised) for 6 weeks. They will receive a written exercise manual which facilitates completion of their exercise programme. The exercise programme will consist of a warm-up, an exercise circuit, a period of aerobic exercise, and a cool down. The programme will be tailored to each patient's ability and needs. At the end of the 6 weeks patients will receive a short consultation to set goals relating to continuing exercise at home.

OTHER

Standard Care

Following ICU admission patients are discharged to hospital wards to the care of a consultant, and the patients are no longer under the care of the ICU team. They are provided with appropriate medical and nursing care, and with referral to other disciplines as necessary. One mobile and able to return home to a carer or another facility they are discharged from hospital. There is usually no support to address potential problems specific to critical illness for patients after ICU discharge.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Ulster

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dr Brenda O'Neill, PhD, BSc Hons Physiotherapy · University of Ulster

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-12-31

Primary Completion

2015-02-28

Completion

2015-04-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations