Tracking Wound Infection With Smartphone Technology

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to evaluate if a smartphone-delivered tool can help assess for wound infections, and if this improves access to care and results in earlier treatment. Participants will be randomised to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive the smartphone-delivered wound assessment tool (SWAT), to access if they have concerns about their wound. The trial period is 30 days.

Detailed Description
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Surgical site infection (SSI) is defined by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an infection in the skin and soft tissues of a surgical wound, within 30 days of the operation. It is a common problem, and complicates 2-10% of general surgery operations. The majority of cases are diagnosed outside of hospital and can be treated with oral antibiotics. Interest in the use of technology in medicine is increasing, with the potential that more advanced technology will help facilitate communication between clinicians and patients, aid in the assessment of patients, and improve clinical decision making. Over two-thirds of people now own smartphones, and regularly use them to access the internet. The investigators wish to use a smartphone delivered questionnaire to help assess SSI and see if this improves access to care and time to treatment. The investigators will be recruiting emergency surgery patients with smartphones at the Royal Infirmary and Western General Hospitals in Edinburgh. Participants will be divided into two groups. One group will receive the wound assessment tool, if they are concerned about their wound, they can use the tool to answer a series of questions. If their answers suggest SSI, a clinician will contact them to advise further assessment and treatment. The participants will also be asked to respond to the tool three times during the trial (to collect responses from those without symptoms), and upload photos of their wounds to a secure database. The second group of participants will receive normal post-operative care. After 30 days, participants will have a follow-up consultation, to determine if they have had a wound infection (this can be via telephone or face-to-face, according to participant preference). They will also answer questions about their experience of the study, and use of services.

Official Title
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Can a Smartphone-delivered Tool Facilitate the Assessment of Surgical Site Infection, and Result in Earlier Treatment? A Randomized-controlled Trial in Emergency Surgery Patients.

Conditions
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Surgical Site Infection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Wound Assessment Tool


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Emergency Abdominal Surgery Patients Smartphone Owners Able to give valid consent Exclusion Criteria: Significant visual impairment

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention Arm<br>Wound assessment tool - delivered via a smartphone. A link will be sent to participants on discharge, which can be accessed at any point should they have concerns about their wound. They will also be sent the tool at 3 additional time-points. | Other: Wound Assessment Tool<br>* A set of questions relating to the symptoms of wound infection<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Arm<br>Normal Post-operative Care | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time from surgery to treatment for surgical site infection | Measured in days from surgery to commencing antibiotic treatment | Outcome assessed at 30 day follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Service Usage | Number of attendances at General Practice (GP) and Accident and Emergency (A&E). | Assessed at 30 day follow-up | 
| Access to Services | How long in days between experiencing first symptom and being reviewed by A&E, GP or surgical team | Assessed at 30 day follow-up |