LAUSR

INTRODUCTION/HYPOTHESIS: Proning critically ill patients presents risk to both patient and healthcare provider. In response to challenges with proning COVID-19 patients, the Apparatus and Method for Moving a Patient (AMMP) device was developed to facilitate the proning of patients while minimizing risk to the patient or the healthcare team. Using healthy participants as patient volunteers, this study sought to determine if the AMMP makes it easier, quicker, and safer to prone patients compared to using the standard approach. METHODS: In this preclinical feasibility study, healthy participants were recruited to participate as patient volunteers at 2 ICUs in Nova Scotia (QEII Health Sciences Centre, Cape Breton Regional Hospital). Education on how to use the AMMP was provided prior to performing the movements. Healthcare providers in the ICUs including physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists used the AMMP to move participants from supine to prone and vice versa, up/ down and/or to lateral position. Paper-based surveys were administered to patient volunteers and healthcare providers upon completion of the movements. RESULTS: In all, 10 patient volunteers and 23 healthcare providers completed surveys. The majority of volunteers were aged 18-35 years (7/10;70%) and weighed 61-90 kg (6/10;60%). None of the volunteers reported being injured while being repositioned using the AMMP, and none of the providers reported any strain or injury to a volunteer or to a team member. Among providers, 91.3% (21/23) felt the AMMP was easy to apply to patients, 100% (23/23) found it easy to adjust strap length, and 100% (23/23) found it was easy to remove after the movement was completed. Compared to prone positioning using the standard approach, 100% (23/23) providers felt that using the AMMP was safer for the healthcare team and 96% (22/23) felt it was safer for the patient. All providers (23/23;100%) agreed physical demands were reduced using the AMMP, and 96% (22/23) agreed it took less time to complete prone positioning and required fewer providers to prone and reposition the patient volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteers felt comfortable and secure being proned and repositioned in the AMMP. Healthcare providers in the ICU found the AMMP easier to use and less physically demanding compared to their standard approach to proning.