Patient perspectives on post-discharge surgical site infections: towards a patient-centered mobile health solution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Post-discharge surgical site infections (SSI) are a major source of morbidity, expense and anxiety for patients. However, patient perceptions about barriers experienced while seeking care for post-discharge SSI have not been assessed in depth. We explored patient experience of SSI and openness to a mobile health (mHealth) wound monitoring "app" as a novel solution to address this problem.

Methods

Mixed method design with semi-structured interviews and surveys. Participants were patients who had post-discharge surgical wound complications after undergoing operations with high risk of SSI, including open colorectal or ventral hernia repair surgery. The study was conducted at two affiliated teaching hospitals, including an academic medical center and a level 1 trauma

SUBMITTER: Sanger PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4250175 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature