A Study Comparing Three Methods of Outpatient Follow up After Surgical Admission; Text Message, Phone Call and In-person Appointment

An Open Label Randomised Control Trial Comparing Three Methods of Outpatient Follow up After Surgical Admission in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; Text Message, Phone Call and In-person Appointment

This study compares three different methods of outpatient follow up after surgical admission to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. The three arms of the study are text message, telephone call or in-person outpatient follow up. Data will be collected to identify complications identified in each arm along with the rate of non-response to the follow up methods and the level of satisfaction with the method. Willingness to use a telemedicine app in the future will also be evaluated through satisfaction survey.

This is a non-blinded, single centre open randomised control trial of the outpatient follow up method following surgical admission to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

All eligible patients will be randomised into three arms, text message, telephone or in-person follow up. The follow up will be carried out at 6-8 weeks following discharge. The rate of complications, the non-response rate and the level of satisfaction will be compared between the three groups.

Willingness to use a telemedicine app in the future in place of an in-person follow up will also be measured by patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Surgical patients admitted either as an emergency or for an elective procedure
• 16 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Did not consent or cannot give consent
• Age less than 16
• No smartphone
• Further follow up required for treatment of further investigation
• Diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of malignancy