SMS-Based data collection of postoperative outcomes on Hand Surgery feasible up to 12 weeks

Written By : Dr Supreeth D R |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-05-13T20:26:56+05:30 | Updated On 14 May 2022 2:46 PM IST

Vietnam: As the burden of surgical care and the associated outreach trips to low- and middle-income countries increases, it is important to collect postoperative data to assess and improve the quality, safety, and efficacy of the care provided.

In this pilot study, Lauren M. Shapiro et al aimed to evaluate the feasibility of short message service (SMS)-based mobile phone follow up to obtain patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) after hand surgery during a surgical outreach trip to Vietnam.

Patients undergoing surgery during a week-long outreach trip to Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who owned a mobile phone, were included in this study. Eight eligible patients elected to participate.

The SMS-based text messaging reminders were sent via the case-management platform developed by Memora Health. This web-based Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant platform sends a text message reminder to each patient with a link to the PROM instrument at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the surgery.

A modified version of the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire was administered for this investigation. It is an 11-item instrument that measures the magnitude of disability and symptoms specific to the upper extremity and requires patients to rate each item on a 5-point scale, from "no difficulty/none" to "unable/extreme."

• The patient characteristics and instrument completion rates were reported.

• The 8 patients had a mean age of 45.4 years and lived at a mean distance of 72.7 km from the hospital.

• Seven (87.5%), 7 (87.5%), 8 (100%), 6 (75%), and 8 (100%) patients completed the follow up questionnaires at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the surgery, respectively.

The authors concluded that - this pilot study demonstrates that the collection of patient-reported outcome measures after hand surgery outreach trips to low- and middle-income countries via SMS-based messaging is feasible for up to 12 weeks after the surgery. This technology can be scaled and contextualized based on location to ensure that patient care during outreach trips is safe and effective.

MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS

Dr Supreeth D R (MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS) is a practicing orthopedician with interest in medical research and publishing articles. He completed MBBS from mysore medical college, dip ortho from Trivandrum medical college and sec. DNB from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. He has expirence of 7years in the field of orthopedics. He has presented scientific papers & posters in various state, national and international conferences. His interest in writing articles lead the way to join medical dialogues. He can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751