Quick Take: Assessment of application-driven postoperative care in the pediatric tonsillectomy population: a survey-based pilot study

Parents typically receive written postoperative instructions for children that have recently undergone pediatric tonsillectomy. While the usefulness of disseminating postoperative information via paper instructions has not been studied, in an era of increasing productivity and usability related to smart device-based applications (apps), the authors of this study aimed to assess the usability and reception of postoperative information and/or instructions disseminated via a smartphone format. Of the 53 families able to provide data via telephone, researchers found that 68% used the app, and that 89% of app-users preferred the app to traditional paper-based instructions. Families that did not use the app indicated that they had forgot to download the app or did not any postoperative instructions. Of the families contacted (non-app users included), 31% of families called the clinic to discuss postoperative care; 22% of families who used the smartphone app contacted the clinic. A greater proportion of parents referenced the app more than 3 times versus the paper instructions (absolute difference 0.36, 95% CI 0.164 to 0.515). A greater proportion of parents graded the smartphone app as “very helpful” (absolute difference 0.250, 95% CI 0.083 to 0.404) and “very ease to use” (absolute difference 0.330, 95% CI 0.172 to 0.467) when compared to paper instructions. This study demonstrated that families responded positively to patient-clinician communication via a smartphone medium, with indicators of increased ease of use of finding information.

Click to read the study in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery

Image: PD

©2019 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.