Association Between Patient Activation and Adherence to a Colorectal Enhanced Recovery Pathway: a Prospective Cohort Study

Low adherence to enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) may negatively affect postoperative outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which patient activation (PA, i.e., knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in care) is associated with adherence to an ERP for colorectal surgery. This cohort study included adult patients (≥ 18 yo) undergoing in-patient elective colorectal surgery at two university-affiliated hospitals in Montreal, Canada. Preoperatively, patients completed the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) questionnaire (score 0–100, categorized into low PA [≤ 55.1] vs. high PA [≥ 55.2]). All patients were managed with an ERP including 15 interventions classified into 2 groups: those requiring active patient participation (5 active ERP interventions, including early oral intake and mobilization) and those directed by the clinical team (10 passive ERP interventions, including early termination of IV fluids and urinary drainage). The adjusted association between PA and ERP adherence was evaluated using linear regression. A total of 286 patients were included (mean age 59 ± 15 years, 45