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Utilization of a novel interactive mobile health platform to evaluate functional outcomes and pain following septoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Author(s) -
Khanwalkar Ashoke R.,
Shen Jasper,
Kern Robert C.,
Welch Kevin C.,
Smith Stephanie S.,
Tan Bruce K.,
Conley David B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.22273
Subject(s) - medicine , septoplasty , functional endoscopic sinus surgery , visual analogue scale , quality of life (healthcare) , patient satisfaction , prospective cohort study , physical therapy , surgery , nose , sinusitis , nursing
Background Whether for research or quality improvement, assessment of postoperative quality of life outcomes faces a challenge in reliable data collection. Typical coordinator‐led studies cite response rates from 35% to 70%. This study evaluates the utility of a digital patient engagement platform to track patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) following septoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Methods A prospective cohort was recruited at a tertiary care center from January 2017 to March 2018. A mobile phone application relayed PROMs, including pain (assessed on a 0 to 10 visual analogue scale [VAS] every other day for 2 weeks, as well as the patient‐reported outcome measure information system [PROMIS] pain interference short form 4a at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months) and timing of return to work. Results Of 288 patients enrolled, 249 (86.5%) provided clinical data, including 208 who underwent septoplasty or FESS. Granular VAS scores, submitted by 195 patients, demonstrated 80% of these patients achieved minimal pain by postoperative day 8. A nonsignificant trend of increased days to pain relief by procedure emerged: septoplasty (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 3.60 ± 2.44), FESS (3.96 ± 3.25), FESS with septoplasty (4.40 ± 3.04), and FESS with drilling (4.86 ± 3.68). Across procedures, PROMIS pain interference increased at 2 weeks (9.17 ± 4.15) and decreased at 3 months (5.32 ± 2.61) compared with baseline (7.09 ± 4.63), with greater improvement noted in the FESS subgroup at 3 months. Patients returned to work at mean 7.1 days regardless of procedure. Conclusions With its high response rate, mobile digital patient engagement platforms may effectively track postoperative outcomes with the potential for reduced sample bias.