Morbidly obese patients’ experiences of mobility during hospitalisation and rehabilitation: A qualitative descriptive study.

Morbid obesity is strongly linked to declining mobility and is a main risk factor for mobility disability. Little is known about morbidly obese patients’ experience of mobility during hospital admission and the specific rehabilitation needs of this patient population. The aim of the study was to explore the mobility experiences and needs of morbidly obese patients before and during hospital admission. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used where semi-structured interviews with morbidly obese patients were undertaken and content analysis conducted. Seven people who were morbidly obese and admitted to one tertiary level hospital in New Zealand for various medical and surgical reasons in the previous six months participated in the study. Key findings revealed that pre-existing mobility had a significant impact on the experiences and needs of morbidly obese patients during hospitalisation. The physical environment of the hospital compounded and intensified mobilisation difficulties. Two categories were identified, these were: ‘compromised pre-existing mobility’, with a subcategory of ‘accessing services prior to admission’; and ‘mobilisation difficulties.