Effects of patient-based self-assessed fatigue intervention on early postoperative ambulation following gynaecological oncology surgery: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

Abstract

Objectives To assess the impact of a patient-based self-assessed fatigue intervention aimed at promoting early postoperative ambulation.Design Prospective randomised controlled trial.Setting Single-centre, conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Xiangyang Central Hospital, China.Participants Eligible were adult patients undergoing elective gynaecologic oncologic surgery.Interventions The intervention group utilised a modified Borg Rating of Perceived Experience (RPE) scale for self-assessment of fatigue levels. The control group followed fixed-activity distance guidelines postoperatively.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was the self-reported the time to first flatus postoperatively. Secondary outcomes encompassed the time to first defecation, incidence of moderate-to-severe abdominal distention, ileus, postambulation adverse events (nausea, vomiting and dizziness), patient satisfaction with early ambulation instructions, compliance with early ambulation and average hospital costs and length of stay.Results Between June 2021 and October 2022, 552 patients were enrolled. The self-assessed fatigue intervention group demonstrated non-inferior the time to first flatus compared with the fixed-activity distance assessment group (25.59±14.59 hours vs 26.10±14.19 hours, pnon-inferiority<0.001). Compliance with activity was higher in the intervention group (49.40% vs 36.02%, p<0.001), although it did not reach 50%. The intervention group also exhibited significantly higher mean hospital costs, length of stay and incidence of moderate-to-severe abdominal distention (p<0.001).Conclusions The self-assessed fatigue intervention for early postoperative ambulation in gynaecologic oncology patients shows promise as an effective strategy; however, compliance is suboptimal. An intervention based on mandatory, yet reasonable, fixed-activity distance may represent the most viable current approach. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.Trial registration number CTR2100046035.