Effects of nurse-led rehabilitation promotion program on functional capacity and complications in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: A quasi-experimental study

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Background: Recovery after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery often involves prolonged functional decline and various postoperative complications. Structured nursing interventions during the perioperative period may help patients regain independence more quickly, though research specifically examining this surgical population remains sparse. This study aimed to determine the effects of a nurse-led rehabilitation promotion program on functional capacity and postoperative complications in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Methods: We conducted a posttest-only quasi-experimental study at Nakornping Hospital from September to December 2025. Fifty-four patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair were enrolled and allocated through matched-pairs methodology into either a nurse-led rehabilitation promotion program (n = 27) or standard care (n = 27). The primary outcomes were functional capacity assessed by the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index on the day of hospital discharge or postoperative day 5, whichever came first, and the occurrence of postoperative complications recorded daily until discharge. We analyzed the data using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: Patients in the intervention group achieved higher functional capacity scores (mean = 12.30, SD = 2.95) than those in the control group (mean = 9.11, SD = 5.56); the mean difference was 3.19 points (95% CI: 0.74 to 5.64; t = −2.63, df = 39.52, p = .012). Fewer patients in the intervention group experienced postoperative complications (59.3%) compared to the control group (85.2%); the absolute risk reduction was 25.9% (95% CI: 3.2% to 48.6%; χ² = 4.52, p = .033; number needed to treat = 3.86). Conclusions: A structured nurse-led rehabilitation program was associated with improved functional recovery and lower complication rates in patients after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. These findings support the integration of such programs into routine perioperative vascular nursing care. Trial registration: TCTR20260702010

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