Impact of multiprofessional rounds on clinical outcomes in a public ICU in Northwest Brazil

Daily multiprofessional rounds are increasingly implemented in ICUs to improve patient outcomes through structured decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration. However, evidence of their impact in resource-limited public ICUs remains scarce. This study evaluates the effect of implementing daily multiprofessional rounds, structured by checklists, on clinical outcomes in a public ICU in Brazil. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2021 and December 2022, including 652 non-COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of Hospital Municipal Djalma Marques. Data from 12 months before and after the implementation of a multidisciplinary quality program were analyzed using univariate tests and Pearson correlation. Among 652 patients, 320 were in the pre-rounds group and 332 in the post-rounds group. ICU occupancy remained high (96.5% vs. 100%, p = 0.551), and mean age was similar (46.7 vs. 47.9 years, p = 0.590). The post-intervention group had higher severity (SAPS 3: 39.4 vs. 60.6, p < 0.001), yet standardized mortality was lower (3.6 vs. 0.7, p < 0.001), and mechanical ventilation duration decreased (9.5 vs. 7 days, p = 0.017). SAPS 3 correlated strongly with central venous catheter use (r = 0.731, p < 0.001) and moderately with urinary catheter use (r = 0.599, p = 0.002). Multiprofessional rounds were associated with reduced mortality and shorter mechanical ventilation duration, supporting their benefit in resource-limited settings.