Determination of mobilization levels and factors affecting mobilization of patients who had undergone open heart surgery

Objective: The research is done to determine mobilization levels and the factors effecting mobilization of patients who had undergone open heart surgery. Method: The research is descriptive. Target population of the research consists of patients who had undergone open heart surgery at a university hospital. Sample group included 85 patients. Data is obtained by using 'Patient Sociodemographic and Clinical Features Form', 'Patient Mobility Scale' and 'Observer Mobility Scale'. In the evaluation of the data; t test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskall-Wallis variance analysis were used in independent groups, and Unidirectional Analysis of Variance and chi-square analysis tests were used for repeated measurements. Results: According to patient mobility scale scores, it is specified that patients who had undergone open heart surgery experience the most pain and have more difficulty during the 'walk in the patient room'. According to observer mobility scores, it is found that patients are dependent on the nurse for 'sitting by the bed, standing up and walking'. It is observed that 21.2% of the patients cannot walk through the room even with support. According to patient mobility scale point average, it is determined that while age, gender, hemoglobin and ejection fraction values have effect on the mobility level, body-mass index and the presence of chest tube does not have any. According to observer mobility scale point average, it is specified that, while hemoglobin and ejection fraction have effect on the mobility level; age, gender and body-mass index have no effect. Conclusion: It was found that patients with open heart surgery experienced pain and difficulty in walking in the patient room in the postoperative period. Women aged 66 years and over, with hemoglobin values below 9.5 and ejection fraction below 49 were found to have difficulty in mobilization. It is recommended that qualitative research is performed to evaluate the opinions of patients with open heart surgery for mobilization. Key words: open heart surgery, mobilization, mobilization levels