Smartphone Use and Interest in a Spine Surgery Recovery Mobile Application Among Patients in a US Academic Neurosurgery Practice : Operative Neurosurgery

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CONCEPTS, INNOVATIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Smartphone Use and Interest in a Spine Surgery Recovery Mobile Application Among Patients in a US Academic Neurosurgery Practice

Nathan, Jay K MD; Rodoni, Bridger M BS; Joseph, Jacob R MD; Smith, Brandon W MD; Park, Paul MD,

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Operative Neurosurgery 18(1):p 98-102, January 2020. | DOI: 10.1093/ons/opz061

Abstract

BACKGROUND 

Mobile applications (apps) are serving an increasingly important role in healthcare for patients and providers alike. In addition to streamlining active communication of patient-reported outcomes regarding quality of life, pain, and opioid consumption, smartphones equipped with activity tracking afford the opportunity to passively and objectively measure mobility, a key metric of recovery in spine surgery. However, app development is a resource-intensive process.

OBJECTIVE 

To survey adult neurosurgery patients regarding access to and interest in this platform.

METHODS 

In June and July 2017, a paper-based anonymous survey was distributed to patients in the waiting room of the adult neurosurgery clinic of a large US academic medical center. Patients’ smartphone use and interest in using a mobile app following spine surgery were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.

RESULTS 

Of 146 included responses, 102 patients (70%) regularly used a smartphone, and this number increased to 77% among patients with a history of spine surgery (n = 66, 45% of respondents). Seventy-one percent of patients with previous spine surgery expressed an interest in using a postoperative monitoring and communication app, compared to 81% of patients without prior spine operations (n = 80, 55%).

CONCLUSION 

Among neurosurgery patients, there is a high level of access to and interest in smartphone apps to aid postoperative recovery. These results are useful for other neurosurgeons considering mobile app development for this purpose.

Copyright © 2019 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

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