Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41450161›Full record

ArticleClinical rehabilitation2026

Perspectives of early mobility in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit: an interpretive description study.

Emily K Phillips, Amy Abegglen, Jacqueline L Hay, April Gregora, Kathy Smith, Carly Shaski, Gavin Bozek, Sarah Gilchrist, Andrew Fagan, Anna M Chudyk and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Emily K PhillipsApplied Health Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2296-8584
Amy AbegglenFaculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0009-0009-2102-5438
Jacqueline L HayApplied Health Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-4284-7141
April GregoraPerson with Lived Experience Partner, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Kathy SmithPerson with Lived Experience Partner, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Carly ShaskiSt Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Gavin BozekSt Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Sarah GilchristSt Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Andrew FaganSt Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1759-5595
Anna M ChudykCollege of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8476-2093
Maureen C AsheDepartment of Family Practice, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-6820-4435
Annette S H SchultzInstitute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7944-2180
Sheila O'Keefe-McCarthyDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2909-8286
Rakesh C AroraHarrington Heart and Vascular Institute University Hospitals - Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5799-3619
Todd A DuhamelFaculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8467-4800

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

ObjectiveEarly mobility after cardiac surgery in the intensive care unit improves patient outcomes, yet implementation by clinicians remains inconsistent. To inform interventions to increase adoption, this study sought to explore clinicians' perspectives on the definition of early mobility in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit and describe perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation.DesignThis qualitative study was guided by interpretive description.SettingA tertiary hospital that performs 1000 cardiac surgeries annually.ParticipantsA total of 26 clinicians, including nurses, physicians, healthcare aides, respiratory therapists, and physiotherapists, participated.Main MeasuresThe nine focus groups and four individual interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes and 13 categories were created from the data: (1) Incongruent operationalization and conceptualization (across micro, meso, and macro levels), (2) uncertainty, and (3) inconsistency in mobilization practices. Themes were rooted in ambiguous definitions of "early" and "mobility," discrepancy between conceptualization and implementation of timing, varied interpretations of success, and perceived safety concerns. In addition, 4 barriers and 4 facilitators were identified and categorized into patient-care and clinician-related.ConclusionDeveloping early mobility protocols and education informed by clinicians may enhance its implementation in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Incorporating the perspectives of clinicians into early mobility protocol development is essential to support behaviour change and provide this beneficial care.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCardiac Surgical ProceduresEarly AmbulationIntensive Care UnitsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative Researchbarrierscardiac surgeryearly mobilizationearly rehabilitationfacilitatorsintensive careQualitative

Identifiers

PMID41450161
PMCPMC13121822

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.