The Effect of Early Mobilization on Postoperative Recovery in Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to examine the effects of early postoperative mobilization on the time to first mobilization, total mobilization time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative recovery measured by the Postoperative Recovery Index (PoRI).

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial at a single center.

A total of 130 patients (65 in the intervention group and 65 in the control group) who underwent abdominal surgery between September 2023 and February 2024 were included in the study. The participants met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected using a questionnaire, a gradual mobilization chart, and the PoRI. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, χ², skewness-kurtosis analysis, and an independent samples Z-test. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05.

The mean age was 46.91 ± 13.37 years in the intervention group and 47.28 ± 13.77 years in the control group. The mean time to first mobilization was 4.18 ± 0.69 hours in the intervention group and 6.02 ± 0.21 hours in the control group (P < .05). The mean total mobilization time on the first postoperative day was significantly higher in the intervention group (134.97 ± 27.01 minutes) than in the control group (55.42 ± 30.76 minutes) (P < .05). No significant difference was found between the groups in total or postoperative hospital stay (P > .05). Significant differences were observed between the groups in the psychological symptoms (P = .026), physical activity (P = .038), and bowel symptoms (P = .002) subscales, as well as in the total PoRI score (P = .001).

A structured, nurse-led early mobilization protocol improves early postoperative recovery outcomes within the first 24 hours after abdominal surgery. These findings contribute to nursing knowledge by emphasizing the importance of goal-directed and standardized mobilization practices beyond routine care.