The Effect of Pain Catastrophizing and Pain Intensity on Postoperative Mobility in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Cross-sectional Correlational Study.

PURPOSE: This study examines how pain catastrophizing and pain intensity influence postoperative mobility in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

DESIGN

The study has a prospective cross-sectional correlational design.

METHODS

The study included 92 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Numeric Rating Scale, Patient Mobility Scale (PMS), and Observer Mobility Scale (OMS). Preoperative pain catastrophizing was assessed. Patients whose vital signs and pain intensity were evaluated during any mobilization after the first mobilization within 48 hours postoperatively were mobilized. The level of pain, difficulty, and dependence experienced during physical movement was assessed.

FINDINGS: The mean age of the patients was 56.12 ± 13.26 years, 54.3% were female, 66.3% underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 19.6% underwent laparoscopic hernia repair, and 14.1% underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Pain intensity, PCS score, PMS score, OMS score, and body mass index (BMI) were found to be positively correlated (P < .05). After mobilization, there was a significant increase in pulse rate, respiratory rate, mean blood pressure, and pain intensity within the range of clinically normal parameters (P < .01). Medical devices (urinary catheter, drain) were found to cause an increase in PCS, PMS, OMS, and pain severity. In the multivariate regression model, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and BMI were found to explain 56% of patient mobility (F(4, 87) = 29.896, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The study results showed that pain, pain catastrophizing, and BMI negatively affected postoperative patient mobility. These barriers need to be taken into consideration when making interventions to improve patient mobility.