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Table 6 Factors limiting commencement of physiotherapy intervention

From: Physiotherapy in upper abdominal surgery – what is current practice in Australia?

(n = 54) Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always
Patient limiting factors
Pain (high VAS) 2 13 46 39 0
Level of ventilation/O2 requirements 11 46 35 7 0
Decreased SpO2 19 46 31 4 0
VO2 max 54 39 7 0 0
FiO2 20 54 22 4 0
Presence of spontaneous breathing 30 48 19 4 0
Abnormal respiratory rate 13 56 31 0 0
Reduced exercise tolerance/fitness 19 41 33 7 0
BORG 26 54 19 2 0
Blood pressure 4 13 59 24 0
Abnormal heart rate 7 39 43 9 2
ABGs 24 56 15 6 0
Number of attachments (catheter, IV drip, O2 therapy) 41 48 7 4 0
BMI 24 56 17 4 0
Patient readiness 7 28 43 19 4
Anxiety level of patient 6 33 43 17 2
Physio judgement of medical stability 11 20 48 17 4
Fatigue 11 26 54 7 2
Other(s) please specify 78 7 13 2 0
General limiting factors
Physician instructions 7 35 46 9 2
Assistance required (mobility) 24 35 30 11 0
Availability of equipment 24 41 20 15 0
Availability of staff 15 31 37 15 2
Pressure to discharge from ward 20 41 31 6 2
Conflicts with MDT appointments 19 54 26 2 0
Other(s) (please specify) 87 6 7 0 0
  1. Values expressed as %
  2. VAS visual analogue scale, O 2 oxygen, BMI body mass index, IV intravenous, BORG Borg Scale, SpO 2 oxygen saturation, ABGs arterial blood gases, VO 2 max maximal oxygen uptake, FiO 2 fraction of inspired oxygen, MDT multi disciplinary team
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Archives of Physiotherapy

ISSN: 2057-0082

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