Evaluating Nurses' Perspectives on the Acceptability and Practicality of Comfort Rounding for Personalised Nutritional and Mobility Care in Surgical Wards: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study.

aimTo evaluate nurses' perspectives on factors influencing the acceptability and practicality of comfort rounding, focussing on personalised nutritional and mobility care.

designMixed-methods feasibility study.

methodsFocus group interviews with nurses were conducted before, during and at the end of the implementation period (2022-2023). A questionnaire assessed acceptability and practicality among nurses at the end of the implementation. Data were analysed using directed content analyses and descriptive statistics.

resultsComfort rounding's acceptability and practicality were influenced by nurses' attitudes, knowledge and skills, patient characteristics and the nurse-patient relationship. Barriers included workload, time pressure, team culture and the extensive, rigid design of comfort rounding. Questionnaire responses demonstrated nurses perceived added value of comfort rounding and frequently engaged patients in activities related to nutrition and mobility. However, it was not performed as originally intended.

conclusionNurses considered personalised nutritional and mobility care important and frequently provided it during 'usual care'. However, nurses were critical of comfort rounding's acceptability and practicality and did not perform it as intended. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Comfort rounding's concept does not align well with current nursing practice. Greater tailoring to nurses' preferences or alternative approaches to structuring personalised nutritional and mobility care are recommended. IMPACT: What problem did the study address: Hospitalised patients often receive suboptimal nutritional care and are largely inactive. The challenge is to integrate personalised nutritional and mobility care effectively into standard nursing practice to enhance patient safety and well-being. Comfort rounding could improve patient safety and satisfaction; however, there is no research evaluating the feasibility of comfort rounding in relation to personalised nutritional and mobility care. What were the main findings: Comfort rounding was generally perceived as valuable and aligned with existing care routines, but its rigid structure was often considered impractical. Comfort rounding was not performed as originally intended due to the influence of individual, social and organisational factors. Flexibility in execution emerged as a critical factor for successful integration. Where and on whom will the research have an impact?: Comfort rounding can enhance attention to nutrition, mobility and patient participation when adapted to local contexts and delivered with flexibility. Policymakers and nurse leaders should avoid rigid protocols and instead support tailored implementation strategies alongside the practical delivery of locally tailored interventions. REPORTING

methodConsolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research and Checklist for Reporting of Survey studies. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Nurses were involved in all stages of the study, contributing through focus group interviews and completing a questionnaire to help develop and evaluate comfort rounding.

trial registrationPaNaMa Research Management System, number 112832.