Responsiveness of two outcome measures to detect changes in physical function for patients after open abdominal surgery.

Early mobilisation in ICU and the use of an outcome measure(OM) is a crucial component of evidence-based practice for physiotherapists. Patient assessment with the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool(CPAx) is part of the daily clinical practice at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre(WDGMC) general intensive care unit(ICU). However, the responsiveness and appropriateness of this tool that we utilise in our open abdominal surgery patients is unknown. Identifying an OM that is responsive and demonstrates minimal clinically important difference(MCID) for our patient population will assist with goal-directed progressive therapy sessions, improved functional outcomes and ensure time and cost effective service provision.During the study, two outcome measures (CPAx and The Physical Function in Intensive Care Test-scored(PFIT-s)will be used to assess patients’ functional abilities after open abdominal surgery. Scores between the outcome measures will be compared to see which outcome measure is more sensitive to detect improvement in the patient’s functional ability during their stay in the ICU.-To measure the responsiveness to detect changes in physical function between CPAx and PFIT-s for patients who had open abdominal surgery.-To measure the MCID in the CPAx and PFIT-s scores when used to assess physical function in patients after open abdominal surgery.-To determine the floor and ceiling effects of the CPAx and PFIT-s when used to assess physical function in patients after open abdominal surgery.