Quantitative Studies on the Effectiveness of Postoperative Ambulation in Adult Patients

“QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH CRITIQUE AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS”
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Introduction
The nursing practice issues covered in this research are the effectiveness of postoperative ambulation in adult patients and the clinical outcomes of early or later ambulation. The critical appraisal compares immediate ambulation within 12 hours following surgery versus late ambulation after 12 hours in terms of patient outcomes throughout the first 30 days after surgery to assess the effectiveness and results of postoperative ambulation among adult clients. The evaluation examines two studies that discuss the significance of early ambulation for surgical patients and its possible impact on problems and results in the social, physical, and psychological realms.
Background of studies
In their 2018 study, Currier et al. sought to assess the impact of early ambulation (within 12 hours of surgery) to non-early walking (after 12 hours of surgery) on outcomes for patients in a postoperative context for adult patients. The researchers reviewed the literature and examined three papers, including two reviews of the literature and one controlled randomized trial; however, they did not state the sample size used in the experiment (Currier et al., 2018). The survey’s study question was: “How well does quick ambulation enhance patient outcomes in the first thirty days following surgery compared to non-early walking beyond twelve hours after surgery?
Implementing a structured diagnostic care pathway (ERAS) for minimally invasive surgical abdominal-based breast reconstructive surgery was the topic of the Astanehe et al. study from 2019. The study included three participant groups: an ERAS group, a changeover group with incomplete ERAS adoption, and normal control subjects (Astanehe et al., 2018). The study design was a cohort study, and it took place in a surgical care setting. No research question was explicitly stated, and the sample size was not specified.
Introduction of Nursing Practice Problem
The nursing practice problem addressed in these two research studies is the effectiveness of postoperative ambulation in adult patients. Previous research has shown that the timing of ambulation after surgery can significantly impact patient outcomes, including physical, psychological, and social consequences, as well as the incidence of complications. In comparison to ambulation after surgery on day one, the first article explicitly examined the impacts of ambulation on day zero (Currier et al., 2018). The second research, in contrast, used a standardized improved recuperation following surgery (ERAS) clinical care pathway, which stressed the need for early ambulation (Astanehe et al., 2018). Both studies aimed to improve patient outcomes and address non-early ambulation as the standard for postoperative patients.
Purpose and PICOT question
This critical appraisal aims to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of postoperative ambulation in adult patients by examining the effects of ambulating within 12 hours post-surgery versus no ambulation in terms of efficacy and outcomes after 30 days of recovery. This research is relevant because early ambu...