Symptoms, walking behaviors, and mobility of Thai patients after colorectal cancer surgery

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains in the top two causes of cancer related death in Thailand. CRC surgery impacts functional capacity, gastrointestinal recovery, and postoperative symptoms. Given that early mobilization improves gastrointestinal recovery, it also may improve postoperative symptoms and mobility. This study examined feasibility data, postoperative symptoms, walking behaviors, and mobility in Thai adults undergoing CRC surgery (n=17). Participants typically were a 59[plus or minus]10.5 year old, cognitively intact, male with a 4th grade education, good mobility and independent activities of daily living before surgery. Pain (7.94[plus or minus]1.70), wellbeing (6.18[plus or minus]3.47), fatigue (4.82[plus or minus]3.97), drowsiness (4.76[plus or minus]3.72), and anxiety (1.18[plus or minus]3.32) had the highest severity on POD 1 and decreased over time. Most participants delayed walking until POD 2 or 3. Average steps walked/day increased between POD 0 (0.0[plus or minus] 0.0 steps) and POD 4 (1428.94[plus or minus]1425.69 steps), then plateaued. Seventy percent of participants had impaired mobility on POD 5, which did not return to baseline by discharge. These data suggest nurses need to better manage psychophysiologic symptoms in the early recovery period. These findings also provide a foundation for developing an early mobilization protocol for Thai CRC surgery patients, which may help improve postoperative recovery.