Baseline and peri-operative variables were compared between the pre- and postimplementation
periods. Chi-squared tests or, if necessary, exact tests were used to compare
categorical variables, and independent-samples t-tests were used to compare continuous
(normally distributed) variables.
The feasibility of the enforced mobilisation protocol was evaluated by calculating the
percentage of patients who were able to walk the prescheduled distance on postoperative day
1. Patients were categorised by the type of surgery they received: colorectal, liver,
oesophageal, stomach and other.