Like I said, I would not have likely gotten up otherwise: patient experiences of using an Activity Board after abdominal cancer surgery

Abstract

Purpose Most patients treated in a hospital setting are fully or partially immobilised. The Activity Board (Träningstavlan® Phystec) is a useful tool to enhance mobilisation after major abdominal cancer surgery. Knowledge of patient experiences of the mobilisation tool is crucial in implementing the Activity Board in health care. This study aimed to describe patient experiences of using the Activity Board after surgery for abdominal cancer. Materials and methods Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted in 15 patients who underwent abdominal surgery due to colorectal, ovarian or urinary bladder cancer. All 15 patients (mean age 67.7 years, range 40–86) used the Activity Board postoperatively. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to inductive content analysis. Results The overarching theme that emerged from the interviews was that “enabling participation facilitates empowerment over rehabilitation”. Three categories supported the theme: prerequisites for using the Activity Board, the value of using supportive behavioural techniques, and the possibility to influence the patients’ care. Conclusions These findings suggest that the Activity Board could be a viable tool that activates the person-centred postoperative rehabilitation process by cooperating with the medical team at the hospital ward. Implications for rehabilitation Patients who are in hospital due to cancer surgery are often immobilised, which increases the risk of complications. The Activity Board can stimulate the patients to participate in the rehabilitation process in a more active way. The Activity Board can be used to improve and clarify the person-centred approach in hospital settings.