The Impact of an Early Mobility Protocol on Recovery Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgeries.

BACKGROUND

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early mobilization is a critical component of healthcare that significantly impacts patient recovery and outcomes. Despite evidence supporting the benefits of early mobilization for abdominal surgery patients, standardized protocols remain scarce across many healthcare environments.

AIM

This study evaluates the feasibility and impact of an early mobility protocol (EMP) on improvement in mobility and patient satisfaction in abdominal surgery patients.

METHODS

This feasibility study, conducted in the surgical intensive care unit at Health World Hospital in West Bengal, involved 20 participants who underwent abdominal surgery. Data were collected via demographic questionnaires, the Modified Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale, and a patient satisfaction scale. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Statistics, version 28.0, Armonk, NY.

RESULT

The EMP significantly enhanced recovery outcomes among patients undergoing abdominal surgery. By day 6, six out of 10 participants in the experimental group (EG; 60%) achieved independence in mobility, compared to five out of 10 participants (50%) in the control group. Additionally, the protocol led to substantially higher mobility scores (p = 0.0001) and patient satisfaction levels, with the EG reporting an average satisfaction score of 4.40, markedly higher than the 0.70 observed in the control group (p < 0.05), thus underscoring the protocol's effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that an EMP significantly enhances recovery outcomes for abdominal surgery patients, with 60% (six out of 10) of the EG achieving independence by day 6. However, the lack of standardized early mobilization protocols in healthcare settings remains a critical gap. These results align with the WHO's recommendations, underscoring early mobilization as a cornerstone of postoperative recovery and emphasizing the need for standardized approaches to optimize patient outcomes.