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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03388502

Novel Text-Messaging Bot in Patients Undergoing Joint Arthroplasty

This study evaluates the addition of an automated physician-specific text-messaging (SMS) bot in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Half of the patients received the traditional perioperative education and instructions (control group), while the other half were enrolled in their physician's SMS bot (intervention group).

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Key information

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, Hip Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

In an era of value-based reimbursement and high-volume surgery, the patient experience is becoming increasingly important. Despite publicized efforts to place a greater emphasis on patient-centered care, patients often report poor access to their physician, lack of effective perioperative education, and frustration as their care is commoditized.

A text-messaging (SMS) bot has the potential to help fill some of these voids. Bots are computer programs that are inherently automated to simulate human-like tasks. While a physician may wish he or she could contact each of their patients daily, it would be an impossible undertaking for most. An SMS bot could make daily contact possible by automating it, potentially improving patient education and engagement before and after surgery. Standard SMS has been previously reported to be an effective means for delivering timely information, increasing patient compliance and outcomes (medication adherence, decrease surgical infections with antiseptic showers), and reaching a socioeconomically diverse patient population. Further benefits may be seen with an SMS bot due to its automated capabilities.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Inclusion criteria consisted of patients over 18 years of age, scheduled for primary total hip & knee arthroplasty, with smart phone capability, and proficiency in English.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients less than 18 years of age, no smart phone capability, poor English proficiency.

Treatment and study plan

Automated Text Messaging (SMS) Bot (intervention group)

Other

Patients will be enrolled in an 'Automated Text Messaging (SMS) Bot (intervention group)' which is a computer program that sends patients timely reminders, instructions, and videos to help them prepare and recover from surgery.

Routine perioperative education & teaching (control group)

Other

Patients will receive the 'Routine perioperative education & teaching (control group)' and will not be enrolled in the physician-specific SMS bot.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time Participating in Home-Based Exercises

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    Stretching, strengthening, and other rehab-specific exercises counted toward their home-based exercises, while walking was excluded.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Knee Range of Motion

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    Degrees of flexion and extension of the operative knee will be measured at 6 weeks after surgery.

  2. Use of Narcotics/Opiates

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    Medications designated as "narcotics" included any medications that contained: hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, morphine, or tramadol. Patients were instructed to record their responses during the same two-hour window each day in a daily diary.

  3. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Mood Score

    Time frame: 6 weeks post-operative

    VAS mood scores were collected from patients on the standard ten-point validated scale. If a patient circled two adjacent numbers on their daily diary, an average of the two numbers were assigned for that day. Minimum score 0. Maximum score 10. Higher score is worse outcome (more pain).

  4. Calls to the Office

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    The number of patient calls to their physicians office were tracked and recorded.

  5. Number of Participants Reporting Satisfaction With Instruction Clarity

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    Patients were asked to fill out a satisfaction survey six weeks after surgery

  6. Visits to the Emergency Department (ED)

    Time frame: over a six-week time period after arthroplasty surgery

    The number of visits to the ED were tracked and recorded.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rush University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of a Novel Text-Messaging Bot in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jan 3, 2018
Registry last updated
Nov 22, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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