Team-based digital communication reduced patient-initiated phone calls to the hospital and improved patient satisfaction after orthopedic surgery: a randomized controlled trial in 70 patients

Abstract

Background and purpose: Post-discharge inquiries to the hospital are predominantly conducted through phone calls. The rigid timing of these calls is inconvenient for patients and disrupts the workflows of healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a team-based digital communication intervention (eDialogue) facilitated through a messenger-like commercial solution on patient-initiated phone calls to the hospital after discharge. Secondarily, we investigated other patient-initiated contacts, patients’ perception of continuity of care, and their perception of feeling safe and satisfied after hospital discharge. Methods: On the day of discharge, 70 surgically treated orthopedic patients were randomized to the intervention group with access to eDialogue (n = 35) or the control group with standard communication pathways by phone call (n = 35) for the following 8 weeks. Through eDialogue, the intervention group had access to team-based asynchronous digital communication in text and photos with healthcare professionals across disciplines and sectors. Inclusion criteria were discharge to own home and receipt of rehabilitation services from both hospital and primary care after discharge. Results: We found a significant reduction in the mean number of patient-initiated phone calls to the hospital from 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–4.1) in the control group to 0.5 (CI 0.3–1.0) in the intervention group (P = 0.004). Across groups, patients reported similar perceptions of continuity of care; however, the participants in the intervention group expressed significantly improved perceptions of, and satisfaction with, access to healthcare after discharge. Conclusion: Access to eDialogue reduced patient-initiated phone calls to the hospital, enhanced patient satisfaction with healthcare accessibility, and did not compromise patients’ perception of continuity of care after discharge compared with standard communication pathways.

Keywords

• digital communication
• interdisciplinary communication
• patient-provider communication
• randomized clinical trial
• team-based care
• text messaging