Yes, I want to walk to the OR

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Experience
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Modern healthcare consumers are increasingly active participants in their own care.
• Preoperative patients often do not perceive themselves as ill, yet healthcare professionals may assign a dependent role.
• Personal control is identified in literature as crucial for reducing stress and symptoms in patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of offering patients a choice in their preoperative transport method on their sense of control.
• To encourage active client participation in healthcare decisions, aligning with King's conceptual framework.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted with clients attending the Preadmission Assessment Clinic.
• On the day of surgery, nurses offered participants the choice between walking to the operating room or using a stretcher.
• Client preference for transport was recorded.

Main Results:

• The majority of clients chose to walk to the operating room.
• This choice reflects a desire for personal control within the healthcare environment.
• Findings support the literature indicating that control is central to stress reduction.

Conclusions:

• Empowering patients with choices, such as transport method, enhances their sense of control.
• Encouraging active participation and decision-making aligns with nursing theories and improves patient outcomes.
• Providing controllable options can mitigate the stress associated with the surgical environment.