Post Operative Survey Through a Bi-Directional Secure Mobile Messaging System



Status:Completed
Conditions:Chronic Pain
Therapuetic Areas:Musculoskeletal
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 89
Updated:9/21/2018
Start Date:June 16, 2016
End Date:August 30, 2018

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Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)and Post Operative Survey Through a Bi-Directional Secure Mobile Messaging System - A Randomized Feasibility Study (mCare)

- Purpose The general purpose of this project is to assess the utility of the mCare
application and MHCE (Mobile Healthcare Environment) system - a secure, mobile,
smartphone app based platform - for same day surgery postoperative follow up of patients
receiving peripheral nerve blocks.

- Research Design Randomized open-label study, comparing the satisfaction of the two
groups with the method of follow up, which is either over the phone or via a mCare
application. A separate group made up of nurses and physicians will have the opportunity
to take a short anonymous survey to rank their opinion on the use of the smartphone
application for patient feedback.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of
the mCare system for postoperative follow-up and querying of patients receiving peripheral
nerve blocks during their perioperative care. The investigators intend to perform a
randomized pilot study comparing mCare with the current standard of care. Participants will
be randomized into 2 groups: a) standard of care groups and b) mCare group. In the standard
of care group, the participants will be followed-up via a phone call by an Acute Pain Service
(APS) nurse, according to current standards. During the past year there have been 375 calls
made, 64 of which have not been answered (17%). In the mCare group participants will be
followed-up via mCare application. 48 hours after discharge an APS nurse is going to call the
participants in group a) and the mCare system will notify participants in group b) to answer
follow-up questions about their pain and peripheral nerve block. If necessary (based on the
follow-up algorithm), participants in either group will be contacted (via phone call or the
app, depending on group assignment) 7 days after their surgery to assess resolution of the
peripheral nerve block. At the end of follow-up, on postoperative day 8, each patient will be
asked to complete the satisfaction and convenience surveys. 10 days after their surgery
participants in the mCare group will complete the System Usability Survey (SUS).At the end of
the study, APS nurses and medical providers will be asked to complete the satisfaction and
convenience surveys, and follow-up response data will be summarized and analyzed. Our
research question is whether the use of the mCare system would result in improved patient
compliance, satisfaction, and convenience on both the patient and the provider side, while
being at least as safe as the standard of care.

Research question 1: Does the use of mCare app improve postoperative follow-up response rate
of patients receiving perioperative peripheral nerve blocks who are discharged the same day?

Research question 2: Does satisfaction, convenience and ease of use differ between the mCare
system and current standards a) in the patient population and b) among health care providers?

The pain assessment tool adapted for the mCare app will be the Defense and Veterans Pain
Rating Scale(DVPRS),which is a 6 item questionnaire for assessing current pain, average and
worst pain over the last 24 hours, and physical and emotional function. The DVPRS has been
validated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), but the administration
has been paper based during rounds by the Acute Pain Service.

The current standard for follow up with patients who receive regional anesthesia for same day
surgery is that the APS nurse contacts them 48 hours after the procedure and asks about their
pain, qualities and duration of the nerve block, and their satisfaction with the service. If
the patient's answers make it necessary (e.g. the block doesn't wear off, the numbness still
persists) then the APS nurse calls them again one week after the surgery. If the numbness
still persists at that point, then the APS nurse escalates their case by informing the
regional anesthesia provider who decides further steps.

In this study, the investigators intend to substitute the phone call by the APS nurse with
the use of the mCare app. Our research question is whether the app is at least as safe as the
standard of care, and at least as easy to use and convenient as the phone call.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male and female military health care beneficiaries age 18 and 89 years old

- Receive peripheral nerve block affecting their limb(s)

- Same day surgery

- Owns a personal cell phone with the following features:

- A 320 x 240 screen display resolution or greater

- ii. Text messaging capabilities

- iii. Data service capabilities

- iv. Service provided by either: AT&T, AllTel, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon

- Ability to use their personal cell phone

- Ability to read and respond to a message in English as the app is only in English.

- Receives reliable cell phone service in their home.

- DEERS eligibility

Exclusion Criteria:

- Under age 18 and over 89 years old

- Non-English speaking-App will only be in English as this is an app developed just for
this study.

- Active participation in other research studies involving mobile devices

- Inability to interact with a touch screen mobile device

- Receive Exparel(which is a pain medication drug they can receive during surgery since
these patients will be called 48 hour post discharge)
We found this trial at
1
site
8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20889
(301) 295-4000
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is one...
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mi
from
Bethesda, MD
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