Research professors José Luis Estela Zape, Harold Andrés Payan Salcedo and collaborators contribute to the growth of the discipline through the scientific publication entitled «Knowledge, attitudes and practices of physiotherapists on the calculation of the ideal weight in intensive care units» in the renowned Acta Colombiana de Cuidado Intensive magazine, official organ of the Colombian Association of Critical Medicine and Intensive Care.

Within this investigation, they report that the calculation of the ideal weight in intensive care units (ICU) has been a fundamental element to establish precise doses of medications, prescribe the adequate nutritional contribution and program the tidal volume in mechanical ventilators. It is a concept that acquires even greater relevance in the context of care for critical patients, where every detail counts to guarantee optimal care and improve clinical results.

In a period between May and July 2021, they carried out a cross-sectional observational study in 15 ICUs in southwestern Colombia. The main objective was to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of physiotherapists in relation to the calculation of the ideal weight. For this, a questionnaire based on three domains was designed and applied: knowledge, attitudes and practices.

The questionnaire, which was implemented through a Google Forms form, allowed us to collect valuable information from 32 assisting physiotherapists, representing 60% of the intensive care units in the city where the study was carried out. During the seven months of data collection, an overall response rate of 55% was obtained, and it was observed that 62% of the participants were women, with an average age of 33 years. In addition, it was found that 62% of the physiotherapists had work experience of more than 36 months, and 25% had obtained post-gradual training in the cardiopulmonary area.

The results obtained revealed that the level of knowledge about the calculation of the ideal weight in critically ill patients among physiotherapists was extremely high, reaching 100%. However, significant differences were observed in the practices used by each professional. These discrepancies in practice highlighted the prevailing need to protocolize and standardize the measurement of ideal weight in the ICU setting.

The study showed that although physiotherapists had a high level of knowledge, the implementation and application of this knowledge in clinical practice still varied considerably. The lack of standardization in the measurement of ideal weight could affect clinical decision-making, patient safety, and the efficacy of treatments.

In conclusion, the research revealed the importance of calculating the ideal weight in the setting of intensive care units. Although the physiotherapists demonstrated strong knowledge in this area, the differences in practice highlighted the need to implement protocols and standards that ensure consistent and accurate measurement of ideal weight. This standardized approach to measurement would not only improve the quality of care in ICUs, but would also contribute to improving clinical outcomes and the safety of critically ill patients.

#MásMaríaCano