The impact of short-term multimodal prehabilitation on functional capacity in patients with gynecologic malignancies during the perioperative period: A prospective study

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2024 Mar 21:70:102577. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102577. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the effect of a short-term, hospital-based, multimodal preoperative prehabilitation intervention on perioperative functional ability of patients with gynecological malignant tumors.

Methods: According to the order in which they underwent surgery, 97 patients were divided into the control group (48 cases) and the intervention group (49 cases). The control group was given routine preoperative guidance, whereas the intervention group was given short-term multimodal prehabilitation guidance on the basis of the control group intervention. The 6-min walk test was performed on the day of admission to the hospital, the day before surgery, and the 30th day after surgery.

Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly better 6-min walk distance and superior physical and psychological status on the day before surgery and the 30th day after surgery (P < 0.001). For three consecutive days after surgery, the quality of recovery in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001), and the first ambulation time and exhaust time were achieved earlier in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The preoperative intervention group showed improved preoperative exercise ability and reduced anxiety in patients with gynecological cancer. Furthermore, this intervention improved the overall health of patients and accelerated their postoperative recovery.

Keywords: Body functional capacity; Gynecological malignancies; Multimodal prehabilitation; Rapid recovery.