Clinical Interest and Economic Impact of Preoperative SMS Reminders before Ambulatory Surgery: A Propensity Score Analysis

Abstract

Patient contact by telephone the day before ambulatory surgery is considered as a best practice. The Short Message Service (SMS) could be a suitable alternative. The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the interest of preoperative instruction (PI) reminders by SMS compared to telephone calls. This was a prospective single center before-and-after study. Patients scheduled in ambulatory surgery were included during 2 consecutive periods of 10 weeks. The "Call" group received a telephone call for preoperative instructions (PI) and the "SMS" group received an automated protocol SMS reminder. The primary endpoint was patient compliance with PI and time of convocation. The two populations were compared with a non-inferiority hypothesis and the impact of the contact modality on compliance with the PI was assessed using a propensity score. The analysis concerned 301 patients in the Call group and 298 in the SMS group. The absence of dysfunction was observed in 75% of patients in the SMS group compared with 61% in the Call group (Risk difference: 14% [95%CI: 7-21]). The use of SMS was associated with a significant improvement in compliance with the PI (Odds ratio: 1.90 [1.48-2.42]; p < 0.0001). Patient satisfaction was similar regardless of the method of PI reminders. The automation of preoperative SMS reminders is associated with a better respect of the PI compared to the conventional calling method. This PI reminder method satisfies the majority of patients and may have a favorable financial impact.

Efficiency of Text Message Contact on Medical Safety in Outpatient Surgery: Retrospective Study

“…First, the use of an SMS reminder before day surgery may be an efficient tool to confirm oral information given during a preanesthesia consultation. Garnier et al [ 14 ] showed that the use of SMS reminders significantly increased compliance with preoperative instructions, time of arrival, fasting rules, and hygiene rules. In our work, this decrease was associated with anesthetic causes, defined by persisting pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, sickness, and aspiration syndrome.…”

“…The most frequently used indicator is the conversion rate to full-time hospitalization [ 10 - 13 ]. Previous studies have shown that the use of SMS reminders before outpatient surgery increased the rates of compliance with preoperative instructions [ 14 ] and reduced the number of cancellations in gastrointestinal endoscopy [ 15 ]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre- and postoperative SMS messages on medical safety in outpatient surgery.…”

Incidence of Postoperative Pain at 7 Days After Day Surgery Reported Using a Text Messaging Platform: Retrospective Observational Study

“…In another study [ 5 ], SMS text message reminders and a smartphone app were used successfully to monitor and reduce the alcohol consumption of military veterans—from a median of 5.6 units per drinking day in the first week to 4.7 units by the last week during the 4 weeks of study. For outpatient surgery, previous studies have shown that the use of SMS text message reminders before the surgery increased the rates of compliance with preoperative instructions [ 6 ], reduced the number of cancellations in gastrointestinal endoscopy [ 7 ], and decreased the rate of conversion to full-time hospitalization [ 8 ]. SMS text messaging might be an interesting alternative to follow patients at home during the postoperative period.…”

Outpatients’ perception of their preoperative information regarding their health literacy skills and their preoperative anxiety level

“…[ 43 ] However, DOS cancellations due to patients’ lack of compliance to preoperative instructions have decreased but are still happening. [ 43 , 8 ]…”