Association of Wearable Activity Monitors With Post-Operative Activity Level Among Cardiovascular Surgical Patients

While this study used participants from a general surgical floor, its merit should be translatable to the cardiovascular surgical patient population. Additionally, Thorup et al. (2016) proved a positive correlation between the amount of time a step counting device was worn and the distance walked by patients.

It is no surprise that the importance of activity level and ambulation goals are stressed as much, if not more, to cardiac surgery patients versus other surgical patients. In order to be released from the hospital, a cardiac surgery patient must meet and exceed a certain walking distance. Because of this, much of the post-operative teaching is related to the importance of ambulating, setting distance goals, and defining a walking plan to adhere to during the hospital stay and after discharge.

Early and sustained mobility in the post cardiovascular surgical patient can positively impact patient outcomes. In order to drive these outcomes, patient ownership, motivation and self-accountability beyond the walls of the hospital must be achieved.

This study will use best practice guidelines, the relationship-based care model, and innovative technology to determine if using wearable activity monitors impacts: (1) intrinsic motivation, (2) time of return to pre-operative mobility levels, (3) LOS and readmission rates, and (4) overall fitness level.

The aim of this study is to determine if use of a wearable activity monitor will motivate post cardiovascular surgical patients to increase activity levels over a 12 week period, to determine the wearable activity monitor's ability to influence return to pre-surgical self-reported mobility level, to determine if using a wearable activity monitor will increase 6 minute walk test(6MWT) distance comparing pre-discharge 6MWT and 3 month post 6MWT, to determine amicability of a wearable activity monitor as an intervention strategy in post cardiovascular surgical patients, to determine if use of a wearable activity monitor as a post-operative intervention will impact patient length of stay and/or readmission.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient must be at least 18 years old
• Patient must have cardiovascular surgery
• Patient must be able to ambulate without the use of an assistive device
• Patient must be able to wear activity wrist device
• Patient must speak and read English

Exclusion criteria

• Patient does not speak or read English
• Patient is not able to ambulate, is wheelchair bound, bed bound, or requires the use of an assistive device for ambulation
• Patient is discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility