Clinical trial NCT05084131: Web-based Visit for Colorectal Surgery
Official title: Feasibility of Online Visit Format for Post-Operative Visit After Colon and Rectal Surgery
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Colorectal Surgery
Keywords: online visit
web visit
patient portal
colorectal surgery
Lead sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-10-19
Enrollment: 33
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patients who underwent elective abdominal colorectal surgery

Brief summary: The purpose of this study to evaluate how well an online format would work for the first post-operative visit after a patient undergoes colon and rectal surgery. This online format is integrated into Epic MyChart. This study aims to determine whether the online format is feasible and acceptable to patients and surgeons as a standard post-operative visit.

Detailed description: Participants were asked to complete a post-operative survey using an online patient portal, EPIC MyChart, after elective abdominal colon or rectal resection. Participants were also asked to do upload a picture of their incisions. Colorectal surgeons reviewed responses/pictures and communicated concerns/recommendations via the same patient portal. At the in-person follow-up visit, both patients and colorectal surgeons completed a satisfaction survey regarding the both visit types.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 or older
2. Planned/underwent surgery that was performed by a surgeon in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery
3. Requires a post-operative follow-up outpatient visit 2-3 weeks from surgery or from discharge from hospital
4. Has access to a smart mobile phone, tablet or computer to access online web interface for the web-based visit
5. Patients with an Epic MyChart account set up.
6. Has ability to take photographs of surgical incision or has access to someone who can take a picture for them.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Requires visiting nurse services at discharge from hospital
2. Cannot use web-based interface or unable to complete questions online
3. Cannot read English, speak English, or would require interpreter services. The reason for excluding these patients is there are not yet MyChart services available in non-English languages at Umass Memorial. It would not be fiscally possible to acquire these for a pilot feasibility study. As the MyChart experience is meant to be completed at home, it would not be possible to provider a medical interpreter in a non-office or hospital setting.
4. Adults unable to consent (adults lacking capacity)
5. Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
6. Prisoners
7. Pregnant women
8. Patients undergoing anal surgery

Primary outcomes:
measure: Patient satisfaction with questionnaire
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: Provider satisfaction with questionnaire
timeFrame: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Worcester
country: United States
facility: UMASS Memorial Medical Center
state: Massachusetts
Study officials:
References:
citation: Beauharnais CC, Hill SS, Sturrock PR, Davids JS, Alavi K, Maykel JA. Efficacy and satisfaction of asynchronous TeleHealth care compared to in-person visits following colorectal surgical resection. Surg Endosc. 2022 Dec;36(12):9106-9112. doi: 10.1007/s00464-022-09383-8. Epub 2022 Jun 17.