HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' EXPERIENCES OF USING THE ACTIVITY BOARD AS A TOOL FOR POSTOPERATIVE MOBILIZATION IN PATIENTS AFTER ABDOMINAL CANCER SURGERY

Background Surgery is one of the most common treatments for solid cancer tumors. Early mobilization is highly recommended following surgery, but it is unknown how to best structure postoperative mobilization to improve outcomes and support patient adherence following abdominal cancer surgery. The Activity Board (Phystec) is a tool developed to support mobilization in hospital settings. It has been shown to potentially be an effective tool in supporting mobilization following abdominal cancer surgery. However, to successfully implement new methods in clinical settings, it is important to explore user experience to identify facilitating aspects and possible barriers. Therefore, this study aims to describe healthcare professionals’ experiences of using the Activity Board to support postoperative mobilization following abdominal cancer surgery. Materials and Methods Seventeen healthcare professionals working with the Activity Board at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden were interviewed in four focus groups. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results An overarching theme was identi ed, ‘A tool that facilitates daily work and promotes patient participation’. The healthcare professionals describe the board as an easy-to-use and helpful tool with great potential, providing valuable and accessible information, as well as enabling them to better support patients. The Activity Board is also described to have a positive impact on patients, promoting them to take charge of their rehabilitation. The theme is supported by four categories, ‘A source of information’, ‘Using the Activity Board to support the patient’, ‘Work procedures’, and ‘Potential and development’. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that the Activity Board could be a helpful tool in supporting mobilisation following abdominal cancer surgery, facilitate daily work for healthcare professionals, and promote patient participation. However, further research is needed, including more informants and other healthcare professions from different contexts.