Healthcare professionals' experiences of mobilising adult patients out of bed shortly after major abdominal surgery - a qualitative study

Background: Early mobilisation is endorsed after abdominal surgery. Healthcare professionals are key figures in mobilisation. However, their experiences of barriers and enablers of mobilisation shortly after abdominal surgery is yet not fully explored. Therefore, the aim was to describe the healthcare professionals' experiences of postoperative mobilisation shortly after abdominal surgery.Methods: This study has a qualitative descriptive design. In November 2017, individual interviews were conducted with a convenience sampling of ten nurses, three nurse assistants and four physiotherapists who participated in an interventional trial mobilising adult patient within two hours after abdominal surgery. Data were analysed with inductive content analysis. Reporting of the study followed the COREQ checklist.Findings: The study findings are presented in two categories: 'a responsibility for the patient' and 'prerequisites and challenges' with five subcategories. The healthcare professionals had initial concerns that mobilisation shortly after surgery would not be safe for the patient and would add extra burden on their workload. However, with time, their perceptions changed to believing that it enhanced the recovery and was feasible to conduct at the postoperative recovery unit.Conclusion: Mobilisation shortly after abdominal surgery at the postoperative recovery unit, was found to be beneficial for the patients without reducing patient safety. However, it is important to assure that sufficient resources and adequate competence are available if such intervention should be implemented in clinical practice.