REVISED CONSENT SCRIPT

Project 1 Introduction and Consent Script

Scenario:

Patient named Romy (aged 65) post- complicated intensive care unit (ICU) stay after an abdominal

aneurysm rupture. The patient is grossly deconditioned (weak). Activity orders are Activity as

tolerated (AAT), Weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT), no Range of Motion (ROM) restrictions,

Moderate Assistance 1. (Introduction and Preparation for Patient Care Activities, 2021)

Teach the patient a bilateral BRIDGING exercise.

Hello there, Romy. How are you doing? Can I confirm your date of birth please? My name is

Merin, and I am a Durham College (Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist Assistant)

OTA/PTA student. As directed by your assigned physiotherapist, KAREN, I am here today to

teach you a bridging exercise that will surely help to improve your bed mobility. My role is to

provide you with proper guidance and to assist you with the exercises prescribed by your

physiotherapist. I would help support you in performing the exercise, and I am present to ensure

your safety. So, Romy, don't be concerned. Okay!

(Patient nodded his head as a response)

This exercise would help you strengthen your trunk stability by increasing the activity of trunk

stabilisation muscles, strengthening your lower extremities, and moving around the bed. (Professor

& Karen Ricciuto, 2021) It is necessary to avoid bed sores, and as you are constantly lying, you
may feel uncomfortable and may experience back pain. (Professor & Karen Ricciuto, 2021) To

avoid all of these, this exercise would help you a lot.

The risk is that you might feel pain in your core for the first time or might feel that you lose your

balance in your lower extremities because you are doing it for the first time, but Romy, I assure

you that it would help you gradually strengthen your core, lower extremities, and to move around

the bed. You may be uncomfortable at first because, as I mentioned earlier, you have been lying

in bed for a long time and it may be difficult to begin, but I assure you that I will be there for you

in supporting you with this exercise and also in avoiding all risk factors that may present due to

this exercise by providing proper care to strengthen your muscles.

You have the option to stop me at any time if you are not comfortable continuing the exercise or

if you are in pain. (Professor & Karen Ricciuto, 2021) (Professor & Karen Ricciuto, 2021) I would

be there to assist you in doing so, but I would need to hold you for you to complete the exercise.

Do I have your permission to hold you and make you do the exercise, Romy? (Patient responds

as “Yes, I do give you the permission”) Okay! That’s great...

I'm just going to explain how this exercise would work. You must listen to my instructions and

perform the exercise as directed. During the exercise, I would hold you at your waist and bump to

support you. You must bend your knees, engage your core, then squeeze and raise your bump off

the bed and hold it for 5 seconds. (Introduction and Preparation for Patient Care Activities, 2021)

On my count 5, you should relax and return your hip to the bed and repeat this exercise 5 times.

Is that clear to you, Romy. Do you have any doubts or concerns about the treatment session (patient

responds, "No, I am good “)? Is it okay for you to do the exercise (patient responds, "yes, I do")
Okay, great... before we begin, I need your permission? Do I have your consent to perform this

exercise on you, Romy? (Introduction and Preparation for Patient Care Activities, 2021)(The

patient responds, "sure, I'm ready to go.") Do you understand all the benefits and risks associated

with this exercise? If so, please give me a thumbs up so that we can begin. (Professor & Karen

Ricciuto, 2021) (The patient gives a thumbs-up.) Great! So, let's get started......

First, I'm going to bend your knees... okay, Romy, now I'm going to help you lift your hip up... for

that, you should squeeze your bump, engage your abdomen, and raise your bump off the bed...

okay, on my count... 1, 2, 3... raise...... hold for 5 seconds... 1, 2, 3, are you all, right? (Patient says

"yes"), 4, 5... now slowly return to bed and relax... Romy, how are you doing? (The patient replies,

"Yes, I'm fine.") Did you experience any pain or difficulty while doing this? Please let me know

so that I can stop at any time. (Professor & Karen Ricciuto, 2021) (The patient responds, "I feel

a little pain, but I'm fine, I can do it.") That's fantastic, Romy; you're doing great. Shall we do

another four rounds? (The patient replies, "Yes, we do")

(Continued as same for another 4 rounds and instruct the patient to do the exercise daily for 5

repetitions as per the physiotherapist orders).

Romy, you done a great job today. Before I leave do you have any questions or concerns (Patient

says "No") Great! I will let your physiotherapist know about your status and will come up with

the further exercises to make you strong enough. Ok, Have a great day! Romy