The effect of postoperative ambulation experiences pain and anxiety levels of patients who had abdominal surgery

The study was conducted as a descriptive study to investigate the effect of postoperative ambulation experiences on pain and anxiety levels of patients who had abdominal surgery. Sample of the researcher is between 02.11.2015- 31.01.2016 , 124 patients who agreed to participate in the study, from abdominal surgery patients in Dokuz Eylül Hospital general surgery clinic. The data is prepared based on literature information, were interviewed face-to-face with patients via data collection form by Taşdemir N. and Özbayır T. The first data of the form; before the patient not to ambulate (A) The second part after the patients ambulation (B) are collected. In evaluating the data; SPSS for Windows (The Statistical Package for Social Sciences) number in the program, percentage, average, t test, ki square test and advanced analysis methods were used. According to the results of the research; 39,5% of the participants were determined to be women, 37,9% were in 39-59 age group and 37,9% were in 60-74 age group. 38,7% of the patients were with colorectal surgery, 69,4% of the patients had ASA value of 2 was identified. 58,1% of the patients were fixed to ambulation for the first time after 9-14 hours. To 52,4% of the patients were being applicated intravenous analgesia (IV) and after the aplication of analgesia it was seen that 45.2% experienced ambulation for the first time. It is seen that 24,2% of patients participated to the research haven't got pain before the ambulation, this rate was 11,3% after the ambulation and 35,5% haven't got anxiety before ambulation, this rate was 37,1% after ambulation. It is also seen that to 59,7% of the patients were given information before surgery about after postoperative ambulation and 42,7% of the informators were the nurses. The patients declared that when mobilization for the first time 44,4% had been supported by the hospital staff. It is identified that after the surgery, 16,1% of the patient had only stood up, 29,8% could walk 3-10 steps. Patients were asked to express their feelings after their first ambulation. 52.2% of the patiens said that they had problems after their first ambulation and among these problems are mostly dizziness and nausea complaint. In the patients that were taken into the research scope was identified that while the average level of pre-ambulation pain rate is 4,0; the post-ambulation is 5,81 (p<0,05). While the average level of pre-ambulation anxiety is 3,98; post-ambulation average level is 2,95 (p<0,05), while pre-ambulation systolic presure is 129,23; the post-ambulation is 131,13 (p<0,05), while pre-ambulation diastolic average pressure is 74,29; the post-ambulation average is 77,53 (p<0,05). While the pulse values of pre-ambulation are 80,33; the post-ambulation values are 82,78 (p<0,05) and while the average numbers of respiration before ambulation for the first time are 22,68; after ambulation are 22,80 (p>0,05). The pulse and the blood pressure values increased after patient's first experience of ambulation. Between patients' age groups, sexes, diagnosis groups and after postoperative ambulation times was not found statistically significant relationship (p>0,05). Also no statistically significant relation was found between the patients' first walking distances and compered the values (points) of anxiety and pain of after/during postoperative ambulation for the first time . According to results of the research; patients first ambulation experiences who spend abdominal surgery, effects pain and anxiety levels. Ambulation is a situation which cause the pain and anxiety for the patients .This situation is the risk for the safety of the patient. The often measuring of vital symptoms after the surgery and saying problems by the patients in the period of first ambulation experiences can give information about complications to the nurses and medical team. Key Words: First ambulation, pain, anxiety, experience of patients.