The effect of mobilization protocol on mobilization start time and patient care outcomes in patients undergoing...

To evaluate the effect of mobilization protocol on mobilization start time, maintenance of mobilization and patient care outcomes in patients who underwent major abdominal open surgery.

Early mobilization in the first 24 hours postoperatively is recommended. Early mobilization is one of the evidence-based, effective nursing interventions that improve patient care outcomes.

A quasi-experimental non-randomised design was used in the study.

In the study, the groups were followed sequentially and the data of the control group (n = 21) were collected before the intervention group (n = 21). The patients in the control group were mobilised postoperatively by the nurses according to the decision of the nurse and physician in the intensive care unit (ICU) on the day of the operation. There was no standard protocol for mobilization in the ICU. Mobilization training was given to the patients in the intervention group by the researcher nurse the evening before the operation, and a mobilization protocol was applied on the 0th postoperative day. Data on patient care outcomes were collected until the day when the patient was discharged from the hospital. The TREND checklist was followed.

According to the postoperative comparison of the patients in the intervention group to those in the control group, patients in the intervention group started mobilization earlier after admission in intensive care unit (6.22 ± 1.95 hours versus 12.21 ± 3.76 hours), had higher postoperative 0^th -day total mobilization time (128 minutes versus 34 minutes), had a shorter passage of flatus time and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay and had higher sleep quality and satisfaction scores.

The structured mobilization protocol is effective in the management of early mobilization and improvement of patient care outcomes.

mobilization protocols ensure that the mobilization process is maintained effectively.