Effects of an Early Promoting Mobility Program on Postoperative Recovery Outcomes in People with Critical Illness after Major Abdominal Surgery: A Quasi-experimental Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60099/prijnr.2025.273862Keywords:
Critical illness, Early mobilization, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program, Major abdominal surgeryAbstract
Delayed early mobilization after major abdominal surgery in people with critical illness has a considerable impact on recovery outcomes and the incidence of complications. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of an early promoting mobility program, grounded in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) framework, on postoperative recovery outcomes. Forty participants undergoing major abdominal surgery were purposively recruited from a tertiary hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. They were matched by age and the specific type of surgical procedure and then assigned to the experimental group (n = 20) that received the intervention program within the first five to seven days after surgery in addition to usual care. The control group (n = 20) received only usual care. The data collection instruments included a Demographic Form, Bowel Function Recovery Assessment, Pulmonary Function Test, Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Assessment, Postoperative Time Out of Bed, and Quality of Recovery-40 Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests.
The results indicated that, upon completing the program, the experimental group had significantly better pulmonary function than the control group. However, no significant differences were observed in other outcome variables. These findings suggest that while the program effectively enhances lung function, it may have a limited impact on different aspects of recovery. Further investigation is needed to understand its full impact better. An additional study employing randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes is necessary to evaluate the program's effectiveness across a broader range of outcomes. Additionally, incorporating this program into routine intensive care unit practice and assessing its feasibility in real-world clinical settings by nurses and others will be important for successful implementation.
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