Educational Needs Analysis for Postoperative Early Ambulation Among Surgical‐Ward Nurses and Patients: Using Borich Needs Assessment and Locus for Focus Models

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify and prioritize educational needs for early ambulation after abdominal surgery from the perspectives of surgical-ward nurses and postoperative patients. BACKGROUND: Early ambulation is a core component of enhanced recovery after abdominal surgery, yet educational gaps in nurses' practice and patients' participation remain underexplored. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study was conducted in a 2700-bed tertiary hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea from May to August 2022. Nurses (n = 100) and postoperative patients (n = 111) after abdominal surgery completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing demographic and clinical characteristics and the perceived importance and performance of 15 early ambulation-related activities using 5-point Likert scales. Educational priorities were evaluated using the Borich Needs Assessment Model and the Locus for Focus Model. RESULTS: Both nurses and patients rated early ambulation as important, but notable gaps between perceived importance and actual performance were identified. Pre-ambulation preparation activities, including muscle-strength assessment and simple in-bed exercises, consistently showed the greatest discrepancies and were ranked as the highest-priority unmet educational needs across both Borich and Locus for Focus analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Early ambulation after abdominal surgery is highly valued but inconsistently implemented by nurses and patients, revealing substantial unmet educational needs. Focusing education on pre-ambulation preparation, particularly muscle-strength assessment and in-bed exercises, may enhance engagement in early ambulation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings provide an evidence-based rationale for developing targeted educational programmes for surgical-ward nurses and postoperative patients that emphasize structured pre-ambulation preparation. Integrating these priorities into postoperative care may strengthen early ambulation practices and support improved recovery outcomes. REPORTING METHOD: STROBE guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Postoperative patients and surgical-ward nurses participated in the study by completing the questionnaires used for data collection. No further patient or public involvement occurred in the design or analysis of this study.