Efficacy of Rapid Rehabilitation Nursing in Postoperative Care in China: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Rapid rehabilitation nursing (RRN) has been increasingly adopted in China to improve patient outcomes following surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of RRN on hospital stays, postoperative complications, postoperative pain, patients’ quality of life (QOL), and patient satisfaction with nursing care compared to traditional nursing care. Methods A systematic search of relevant databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, was conducted to identify eligible studies. The standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for continuous outcomes (hospital stays, postoperative pain, and QOL). Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals were used for dichotomous outcomes (postoperative complications, patient satisfaction with nursing care). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. Fixed-effects and random-effects models were calculated for each outcome measure. Results A total of 10 studies including 1,565 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Rapid rehabilitation nursing significantly reduced hospital stays and postoperative complications compared to traditional nursing care. Patients receiving RRN experienced lower postoperative pain scores and improved QOL, although the latter result was not statistically significant. Patient satisfaction with nursing care was significantly higher in the RRN group compared to traditional nursing care. Conclusions Rapid rehabilitation nursing appears to be an effective approach for shortening hospital stays, reducing postoperative complications and postoperative pain, and increasing patient satisfaction with nursing care compared to traditional nursing care. The findings support the integration of RRN into clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes and patients' satisfaction with nursing care. Future research should focus on further investigating the impact of RRN on patients’ QOL using larger, well-designed studies.