Feasibility of a Mobile Phone-Based Surveillance for Surgical Site Infections in Rural India

Pathak, AshishKarolinska Institutet,Uppsala universitet,Internationell mödra- och barnhälsovård (IMCH),Karolinska Inst, Dept Publ Hlth Sci, Global Hlth IHCAR, S-17177 Stockholm, Sweden.;Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Med Coll, Dept Paediat, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India. (författare)

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of using mobile communication technology in completing a 30-day follow-up of surgical site infection (SSI). Subjects and Methods: SSIs are infections occurring up to 30 days after an operative procedure. This prospective exploratory study was conducted in a cohort of patients who were admitted and operated on in the general surgery wards of a rural hospital in India from October 2010 to June 2011. At the time of discharge, all patients were requested to follow-up in the surgical outpatient clinic at 30 days after surgery. If this was not done, a mobile phone-based surveillance was done to complete the follow-up. Results: The mean age of the 536 operated-on patients was 40 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 38-41 years). The mean duration of hospital stay was 10.7 days (95% CI, 9.9-11.6 days). Most (81%) operated-on patients were from rural areas, and 397 (75%) were male. Among the operated-on patients the ownership of mobile phones was 75% (95% CI, 73-78%). The remaining 25% of patients (n = 133) used a shared mobile phone. For 380 patients (74.5%) the follow-up was completed by mobile phones. The SSI rate at follow-up was 6.3% (n=34). In 10 patients, an SSI was detected over the mobile phone. Conclusions: Mobile communication technology is feasible to be used in rural settings to complete case follow-up for SSIs.

Sharma, ShailendraKarolinska Institutet (författare)
Sharma, MeghaKarolinska Institutet (författare)
Mahadik, Vijay K.Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Med Coll, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India. (författare)
Lundborg, Cecilia StalsbyKarolinska Inst, Dept Publ Hlth Sci, Global Hlth IHCAR, S-17177 Stockholm, Sweden. (författare)
Uppsala universitetInternationell mödra- och barnhälsovård (IMCH) (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Telemedicine journal and e-health: Mary Ann Liebert Inc21:11, s. 946-9491530-56271556-3669

Av författaren/redakt...: Pathak, Ashish; Sharma, Shailend ...; Sharma, Megha; Mahadik, Vijay K ...; Lundborg, Cecili ...

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