Routine programme for the control group
The control group followed departmental routines.
Once the surgeon took the decision on surgery,
the surgeon informed the patient about the
operation and advised regarding cessation of smoking
and harmful drinking before surgery. At admission
the anaesthesiologist informed the patient
about anaesthesia and postoperative pain treatment
and the nurse in the surgical department
informed the patient about the plan for postoperative
rehabilitation in hospital, including pain treatment,
diet and physiotherapy following the
operation day, aiming for discharge on the eighth
postoperative day. The physiotherapist mobilized
the patients if possible on the day of the operation
and trained daily 30 minutes with the patients in the
following days. There was no reporting on further
self-rehabilitation for control patients