The relationship of patient participation in mobilization on length of hospital stay in hospitalized adult patients with fractured tibia and fibula at two central hospitals in Harare Zimbabwe

Abstract

Length of hospital stay is an area of concern in medical- surgical nursing. Length of hospital stay determines the Financial cost incurred by the patient and the potential complications the patient may deveolp (Marchette & Holloman 1986). The World Development Report, (1993) stated that, Government hospitals in developing countries, including Zimbabwe, keep patients longer than is necessary. The purpose of the study was to describe patient participation in mobilization of hospitalized adult patients, identify the length of hospital stay and examine the relationship of patient participation in mobilization on length of hospital stay. A descriptive correlational design using a convenience sampling method was used to select 50 patients comprising 37 males and 13 females with fractured tibia and fibula. Roy's Adaptation Model provided the foundation for the study. The study sites were two referral Central Hospitals in Zimbabwe. The instruments used for collecting data were structured interview questionnaires, developed by the investigator for measuring demographic characteristics, patient participation in mobilization and length of hospital stay. The average length of hospital stay was 16 days. The total score of patient participation was 147. The majority of the patients, constituting 58% scored below the mean score of 73.5 whilst 42% scored above the mean score. The Pearson correlation (r) coefficient identified that there was no relationship of patient participation in mobilization on length of hospital stay, (r =.0028 ) ( p = > .05 ). Although the results were insignificant, there is a need for medical- surgical nurses to provide adequate information to the patients so as to improve their perception on participation in mobilization.This study could be used as a pilot project for conducting further research studies with larger sample sizes employing the concept of patient participation especially in reducing length of hospital stay.