A feasibility study with a separate-sample pre-test post-test design was performed. Data were
collected prospectively in two time periods. From November 2010 to the end of January 2011,
postoperative outcomes from patients with gastrointestinal cancer who underwent surgery and
received traditional postoperative care (without enforced mobilisation) were collected.
Subsequently, an early postoperative mobilisation protocol with enforced walking was
implemented, and postoperative outcomes of patients were collected from mid February 2011
to the end of April 2011. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of VU
University Medical Centre. All participants provided written informed consent.