Mobility Is Medicine, Too: Creating a Culture of Mobility Amongst Hospitalized Patients With Cancer to Improve Patient Outcomes

Background: Despite decades of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of multidisciplinary mobility initiatives in improving patient clinical outcomes, the impact of mobility programs in oncology-specific settings has been ignored. Objective: The objective of this initiative is to test evidence-based mobility interventions in a cancer care center to create a culture among clinicians that prioritizes patient mobilization. Methods: We compared postintervention and preintervention outcomes using logistic regression analysis and time-to-event modeling to assess hospital length of stay. Basic statistical methods assessed whether improving mobility influenced clinical outcomes and clinician culture. Results: Outcome data from 493 in the postintervention arm were compared to 498 patients in the preintervention arm. Patients in the postintervention group had 39% decreased odds of having the rapid response team called (confidence interval CI =0.39–0.97; P = .03) and 46% decreased odds of being admitted to the intensive care unit (CI = 0.29–1.02; P = .05) compared to the preintervention group. No safety issues were associated with these interventions. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with cancer are especially prone to considerable debility due to their disease and treatment effects. Our initiative to create a mobility protocol in 1 medical unit resulted in positive clinical outcomes. Implications for Practice: Findings from this study can be used to increase recognition of the benefits of mobility programs for hospitalized cancer patients. What is Foundational: Promoting mobility in the hospital often involves collaboration among various healthcare professionals, including nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physicians. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that patients receive holistic care tailored to their specific needs.