A new study published in The Spine Journal examines collecting patient reported outcomes with a mobile device-based system designed for spine patients in an outpatient clinic.
The researchers collected surveys for 103 patients who used both paper and electronic systems in the outpatient clinic. The questions gathered patient demographics, familiarity with smart phones and information about proficiency with using mobile devices. They also asked about waiting room efficiency, clinical visit efficiency and overall satisfaction.
The researchers found:
1. The average patient-reported positive response score to the eight questions posed was 79.8 out of 100, with a range of 76.7 to 83.9.
2. The average patient-reported positive response score was 79.8 at the waiting room and 80.5 during the clinic.
3. The overall patient-reported positive response score for overall satisfaction was 83.3 with a range of 79.6 to 87.
4. The overall score for mobile system use was 77.1, with a range of 71.9 to 82.3.
5. Smartphone use and proficiency in typing were independently significant predictors of the patient-reported positive response scores.
"The mobile device-based system improved the patient-reported efficiency in spine outpatient clinics," concluded the study authors. "However, various factors such as the use of smart phones need to be considered when developing and applying mobile systems."