BACKGROUND: Physiotherapists are essential in the management of hospitalised patients. The way in which a physiotherapy service is offered in intensive care units (ICUs) can affect ICU patient outcomes OBJECTIVES: To provide a clear picture of the organisation and structure of physiotherapy departments, the number and types of ICUs requiring physiotherapy services and the profile of physiotherapists working in South African public-sector central, regional and tertiary hospitals that house Level I-IV ICUs METHOD: Cross-sectional survey design using SurveyMonkey, analysed descriptively RESULTS: One hundred and seventy units (the majority Level I, functioning as mixed [37%, n = 58] and neonatal [22%, n = 37] units) are serviced by 66 physiotherapy departments. The majority of physiotherapists (61.5%, n = 265) were younger than 30 years, had a bachelor's degree (95.1%, n = 408) and were employed in production Level I and community service posts (51%, n = 217) with a physiotherapy-to-hospital-bed ratio of 1:69 CONCLUSION: Insight into the organisational structure of physiotherapy departments and physiotherapists working in public-sector hospitals with ICU facilities in South Africa was provided. It is evident that physiotherapists employed within this sector are young and early in their career development. The large number of ICUs functioning within these hospitals and high bed-to-physiotherapist ratio is concerning, highlighting the high burden of care within this sector and the possible effect on physiotherapy services in the ICUs CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A high burden of care is placed on public-sector hospital-based physiotherapists. The number of senior-level posts within this sector raises concern. It is not clear how the current staffing levels, physiotherapist profile and structure of hospital-based physiotherapy departments affect patient outcomes

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo investigou se pacientes com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) atingem a mínima atividade física recomendada pelos guidelines do American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), assim como as consequências da não-aderência a esses guidelines. MÉTODOS: Atividade física na vida diária (DynaPort activity monitor), função pulmonar, força muscular, capacidade de exercício, qualidade de vida, estado funcional e diferentes índices de severidade (GOLD, BODE, MRC) foram avaliados em 23 pacientes (61[59-69] anos; VEF1 39[34-53]%predito; IMC 24[21-27]kg/m²; mediana [intervalo interquartílico 25-75%]). RESULTADOS: De acordo com a aderência aos guidelines (andar no mínimo 30 minutos todo dia), 12 pacientes foram considerados "fisicamente ativos", e 11 "fisicamente inativos". Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos em termos de idade, sexo, composição corporal, força muscular, reserva ventilatória, hiperinsuflação e qualidade de vida. O grupo inativo tinha pior função pulmonar, capacidade de exercício, MRC e BODE (p<0.05). Além disso, na vida diária, o grupo inativo andou menos tempo e numa velocidade menor (p<0.05). O BODE e a MRC foram superiores ao GOLD na predição de aderência aos guidelines (especificidade 0.83 para BODE e MRC e 0.50 para o GOLD). O BODE aumentou significativamente para cada dia de inatividade física. CONCLUSÃO: Grande parte dos pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica não andam mais de 30 minutos por dia, e portanto não atingem a mínima atividade física recomendada pelos guidelines do American College of Sports Medicine. Inatividade está relacionada com maior taxa de mortalidade. O BODE e a MRC mostraram-se superiores ao GOLD para predizer pacientes fisicamente inativos na vida diária.

OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to determine whether patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get the minimum daily amount of physical activity recommended in the guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), as well as to characterize the consequences of noncompliance with those guidelines. METHODS: This study involved 23 patients (median age: 61 - range, 59-69 years; FEV1: 39% of predicted - range, 34-53%; BMI: 24 kg/m² - range, 21-27 kg/m²). The following parameters were evaluated: daily physical activity (DynaPort activity monitor); pulmonary function; muscle force; exercise tolerance; quality of life; functional status; and various indices of disease severity (GOLD, BODE and MRC). RESULTS: Based on compliance with the guidelines (minimum of 30 minutes of walking per day), 12 patients were considered "physically active", and 11 were considered "physically inactive". No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, muscle force, ventilatory reserve, hyperinflation or quality of life. The inactive group presented more impaired pulmonary function and lower exercise tolerance, as well as lower MRC and BODE scores (p < 0.05). In their daily life, patients in the inactive group also walked for less time and more slowly than did those in the active group (p < 0.05). The MRC and BODE indices were superior to the GOLD index in predicting compliance with the guidelines, both presenting a specificity of 0.83, compared with 0.50 for the GOLD index. The BODE index score increased significantly with each day of inactivity. CONCLUSION: A large number of COPD patients do not walk more than 30 minutes per day and are therefore not getting the minimum daily amount of physical activity recommended by the ACSM. Inactivity correlates with a higher mortality rate. The MRC and BODE indices proved superior to the GOLD index in predicting whether patients are physically inactive in their daily lives.