On the Move to Surgery: A Scoping Review of Patient-Reported Outcomes for Preoperative Walking Into the Operating Theatre.
Sebastian Labenbacher, Sascha Hammer, Angelika Moser and 2 others
PMID 41020293WHAT IT FOUND
Most studies show patients feel less anxious and satisfied when walking to surgery, but results are mixed.
One trial found lower satisfaction with walking, and an observational study linked supine transport to less severe anxiety. No adverse events were reported, but patient selection is critical.
Key findings
01Five of the seven included trials reported positive patient outcomes for walking, while two favored control groups.
02No adverse events were reported in any of the included trials regarding the walking intervention.
03In one randomized trial, patients walking to the operating theatre had significantly lower satisfaction regarding the mode of transport compared to those transported by bed.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The included trials spanned almost 30 years, which may affect the applicability of older findings to modern hospital settings. Four of the seven trials used self-designed questionnaires that had not been validated, making it hard to compare satisfaction scores across studies. Most trials excluded patients who received sedating premedication or had limited mobility, so the results do not apply to those groups. The definition of 'walking to theatre' varied, with some studies starting from the ward and others from holding areas, and accompaniment strategies were not standardized.
Declared interests
The text does not explicitly state funding sources or conflicts of interest declarations for the authors of this review.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume walking is universally preferred or more satisfying; one trial found lower satisfaction for walkers, and an observational study linked supine transport to less severe anxiety.