Family Integration in Therapy Activities in the Intensive Care Unit: The FIT-ICU Feasibility Study

An ICU admission is stressful for not only patients but their families as well. Research has shown that involving family members during a loved one's ICU stay can be helpful for them, but there is not clear direction on the best way to do this. For patients, family presence as well as early movement during their ICU stay has been shown to help recovery from things like delirium (a state of confusion) faster, and might prevent the weakness that can happen with a stay in the ICU. In this study, the investigators will explore whether having family help with moving patients through physiotherapy guided exercise can help both patients and families have a better experience and result from their ICU stay. The investigators hypothesize that family involvement in activities as part of an overall physiotherapy treatment plan will provide a tangible means for family members to engage in the care of their critically ill loved one, thus improving outcomes for both critically ill patients and family members.

NCT Number	NCT06071793
Lead Sponsor	St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Conditions	Critical Illness, Delirium
Enrollment	20 participants
Start Date	2023-11-30
Primary Completion	2025-09-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-09-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-07-24