Influence of motivational interviewing on postoperative mobilization in the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS?) pathway in elective colorectal surgery - a randomized patient-blinded pilot study

Purpose Early mobilization is an essential component of the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS (R))-pathway. However, a large percentage of patients fail to achieve the ERAS (R) recommended goal (360 min out of bed from post-operative day 1/POD1). Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based type of patient-centered consultation to promote intrinsic motivation. This study aims to evaluate if MI can improve postoperative mobilization.Methods This two-arm, patient-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial included ERAS (R)-patients undergoing elective bowel resections. Conversations were validated by MI Treatment Integrity. Two validated motion sensors (movisens) and self-assessments were used to measure mobilization (POD1-POD3: Time out of bed, time on feet and step count).Results 97 patients were screened, 60 finally included and randomized. Cumulatively across POD1-3, the intervention group (IG) was longer out of bed than the control group (CG) (median: 685 vs. 420 min; p=0.022). The IG achieved the ERAS (R)-goal of 360 min/day more frequently across POD1-3 (27.4% vs. 10.61%; p=0.013). Time on feet was 131.5 min/day (median per POD) in IG vs. 95.8 min/day in the CG (p=0.212), step count was 1347 in IG vs. 754 steps/day in CG (p=0.298).Conclusion MI could be conducted low threshold and was well accepted by patients. MI can improve mobilization in the context of ERAS (R). Despite better performance, it should be noted that only 27.4% of the IG reached the ERAS (R)-compliance goal of 360 min/day. The findings of this pilot study stipulate to further test the promising perioperative effects of MI within a multicenter superiority trial.Registration This study was registered prospectively in the German Clinical Trials Register on 25.02.2022. Trial registration number is "DRKS00027863".