Impact of smartphone digital photography, email, and media communication on emergency room visits post-hypospadias repair

Authors

  • Michael E. Chua The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
  • Megan A. Saunders The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
  • Paul R. Bowlin Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas, US
  • Jessica M. Ming The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
  • Roberto Iglesias Lopes The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
  • Walid A. Farhat The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
  • Joana Dos Santos The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.4170

Abstract

Introduction: Advances in communication technology are shaping our medical practice. To date, there is no clear evidence that this mode of communication will have any effect on unnecessary postoperative
emergency room (ER) visits. We aim to evaluate the effect of email and media communication with application of smartphone digital photography on post-hypospadias repair ER visit rates.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included all patients who underwent hypospadias repair performed by a single surgeon from October 2014 to November 2015. Patients were categorized into
two groups: Group A consented for smartphone photography and email communication and Group B declined. Reason for ER visits within 30 days postoperatively was assessed by another physician, who was blinded of patient group assignment. The reasons were categorized as: unnecessary ER visit, indicated ER visit, or visit unrelated to hypospadias surgery. Chi-square test and T-test were used for statistical analysis. Relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were also calculated. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: Over a 14-month period, 96 patients underwent hypospadias repair (81 in Group A, 15 in Group B 5). No significant difference was noted between groups for overall ER return rate (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21, 1.0). However, the number of ER visits for wound check not requiring intervention was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (RR 0.14, 95% CI 0.035, 0.56); likewise, a higher number of ER visits requiring intervention was noted in Group A compared with Group B, although statistically this was not significant (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.23, 12.21).

Conclusions: Email communication with the use of smartphone digital photography significantly reduced the number of unnecessary ER visits for post-hypospadias wound checks.

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Author Biographies

Michael E. Chua, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Clinical Fellow, Division of Urology

Megan A. Saunders, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Division of Urology (Staff nurse)

Paul R. Bowlin, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas, US

Department of Surgery, Staff Pediatric Urologist

Jessica M. Ming, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Division of Urology, Clinical Fellow

Roberto Iglesias Lopes, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Division of Urology, Staff Pediatric Urologist

Walid A. Farhat, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Division of Urology, Associate Surgeon in Chief

Joana Dos Santos, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Division of Urology, Staff Pediatric Nephorlogist-Medical Urologist

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Published

2017-04-11

How to Cite

Chua, M. E., Saunders, M. A., Bowlin, P. R., Ming, J. M., Iglesias Lopes, R., Farhat, W. A., & Dos Santos, J. (2017). Impact of smartphone digital photography, email, and media communication on emergency room visits post-hypospadias repair. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 11(3-4), E134–7. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.4170

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Section

Original Research