Influence of the Culture Care Program on Patient Mobility After Thoracic or Abdominal Surgery: a Mixed-methods Study

Launched by HAUTE ECOLE ARC SANTE · Mar 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a special program called the Culture Care program can help patients move more after they have thoracic or abdominal surgery. After surgery, many patients tend to stay in bed, which can slow down their recovery and lead to complications. The Culture Care program aims to create a more enjoyable and stimulating environment in the hospital using art and cultural activities. Researchers want to see if this positive experience can encourage patients to be more active and reduce the amount of time they spend being sedentary compared to patients who were treated before the program started.

To take part in the trial, patients need to be admitted for planned (not emergency) thoracic or abdominal surgery and expect to stay in the hospital for at least two days. They should also be able to understand and complete questionnaires about their recovery and mobility. Participants will wear a device that tracks their movement for the first five days after surgery and answer questions about how they feel. Additionally, healthcare workers will provide feedback on how prepared they feel to support patient mobility. This study is currently recruiting patients and aims to gather both numerical data and personal experiences to understand the program's effects better.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Admission to Surgical Units in the Surgical Department of the Hôpital de Neuchâtel implementing the Culture Care program.
• • Elective thoracic or abdominal surgery with an expected hospital stay of at least 2 days (i.e. discharge on postoperative day 3).
• • Neurocognitive and physical ability to complete questionnaires and individual participation in the Culture Care program.
• • Full capacity of discernment and signed informed consent to participate in the study.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Outpatient surgery.
• • Emergency surgery.
• • Mobility severely impaired prior to surgery: patients with 1 or 2 lower-limb amputations, patients with wheelchair mobility only, neurodegenerative diseases.
• • Bed restiction between POD 1 and POD 5 for medical reasons, i.e. surgery, post-operative complications or other pre-existing cardiorespiratory, neurological or orthopedic reasons.
• • Transfer to ICU
• • Only during the Culture Care phase, an unplanned transfer to another unit that does not have the Culture Care program (e.g. Medicine units).
• • Technical problem with the accelerometer (e.g. disfunctioning battery).
• • Allergic reaction to any dressing used to attach the accelerometer.
• • End-of-life patients.