Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery Recovery

Overseen By Selina Research Coordinator

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada

Disqualifiers: Short hospital stay, Rehabilitation need

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Immediate post-surgery

670 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new mobile app designed to aid recovery at home after colorectal surgery. The goal is to determine if the app can reduce unplanned hospital visits and improve recovery and confidence in managing health care. Participants will either receive standard follow-up care or use the Home to Stay Mobile App for additional support. The trial seeks individuals who are going home after elective colorectal surgery and can speak English or French.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance post-surgery recovery for many patients.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this mobile app is safe for colorectal surgery recovery?

Research shows that the Home to Stay Mobile App is safe and popular with patients. Studies found that 93 out of 106 patients successfully used the app after colorectal surgery. Patients reported high satisfaction, indicating ease of use. No serious side effects have been reported. Instead, the app aids patients in managing their recovery at home, reducing stress and unexpected hospital visits. Overall, evidence supports the app's safety for those recovering from colorectal surgery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Home to Stay Mobile App because it offers a new way to support recovery after colorectal surgery. Unlike traditional follow-up care, which usually involves in-person visits and phone check-ins, this app integrates a discharge monitoring system that patients can use right from home. This means patients can receive guidance and support in real-time, potentially catching complications earlier and improving recovery outcomes. The convenience and immediacy of mobile technology make this approach a promising complement to standard post-surgery care.

What evidence suggests that the Home to Stay Mobile App is effective for colorectal surgery recovery?

This trial will compare the Home to Stay Mobile App with usual care for colorectal surgery recovery. Studies have shown that the Home to Stay Mobile App improves recovery after colorectal surgery. Research indicates that patients are very satisfied with the app and find it easy to use. Early results suggest that the app reduces unexpected hospital visits by helping patients manage their recovery at home. Patients using the app also feel more confident in managing their health post-surgery. Overall, the app aims to make recovery smoother and less stressful for patients. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Erin Kennedy

Principal Investigator

MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults who've had elective colorectal surgery and are going home afterwards. They must be over 18, able to speak English or French, and give informed consent. It's not for those with short post-op hospital stays under 3 days or needing rehab before going home.

Inclusion Criteria

Provides informed consent

I can speak and understand English or French.

I am going home after elective surgery on my colon or rectum.

Exclusion Criteria

I need to stay in a rehab center before I can go home.

I was in the hospital for less than 3 days after surgery.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo colorectal surgery and are discharged home with either standard follow-up care or an integrated discharge monitoring system using a mobile app

Immediate post-surgery

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for unplanned hospital visits, quality of recovery, and self-efficacy using questionnaires

4 weeks

Regular app-based monitoring

Outcome Assessment

Assessment of primary and secondary outcomes including 30-day unplanned hospital visit rate and patient quality of recovery

30 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Home to Stay Mobile App

Trial Overview The study tests a mobile app designed to monitor patients at home after colorectal surgery against standard follow-up care. Participants will either use the app as part of an integrated discharge system or receive usual care, aiming to reduce unplanned hospital visits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention group will receive the same usual care as the control group plus be enrolled in the integrated discharge monitoring system.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will receive usual follow up care that is currently provided at the 3 participating centres.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada

Lead Sponsor

Trials

210

Recruited

70,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effectiveness of a mobile application in reducing unplanned hospital visits within 30 days post-colorectal surgery, involving a sample size of 670 patients.

The study anticipates that the mobile app will not only decrease emergency room visits but also enhance patients' quality of recovery, potentially leading to its wider adoption in clinical practice if successful.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home to Stay: A randomized controlled trial protocol to assess use of a mobile app to reduce readmissions following colorectal surgery. Anpalagan, T., Schmocker, S., Raval, M., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 282 patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery, a mobile app for postdischarge monitoring did not significantly reduce 30-day readmissions or emergency room visits compared to usual care.

However, the app significantly improved patient-reported outcomes, including higher satisfaction and well-being scores, and lower anxiety levels, suggesting it can be a valuable tool for supporting patients after surgery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home to Stay: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effect of a Postdischarge Mobile App to Reduce 30-Day Readmission Following Elective Colorectal Surgery. Pooni, A., Brar, MS., Anpalagan, T., et al.[2023]

A smartphone-based health application was successfully used by 88% of colorectal surgery patients, allowing for effective perioperative follow-up and real-time communication with healthcare providers.

The app detected 12 adverse events post-discharge, with 83% of these issues resolved through the app, significantly reducing the need for emergency consultations and enhancing patient satisfaction (mean score of 4 out of 5).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gains and limitations of a connected tracking solution in the perioperative follow-up of colorectal surgery patients. Agri, F., Hahnloser, D., Demartines, N., et al.[2021]

A mobile application was developed to monitor patients after colorectal surgery, showing high usability (76% satisfaction) and an impressive adherence rate of 89.6% over 15 days post-discharge, indicating strong acceptance among patients.

The app successfully collected 1220 notifications regarding potential complications, with the most common issues being pain, abnormal stools, and wound problems, suggesting it could be a valuable tool for early detection of complications and reducing readmissions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital postoperative follow-up after colorectal resection: a multi-center preliminary qualitative study on a patient reporting and monitoring application. Bertoni, S., M M K Magema, JP., Van Geluwe, B., et al.[2023]

The Home to Stay integrated discharge monitoring system was successfully used by 93 out of 106 patients after colorectal surgery, showing high patient satisfaction with 92% rating it as good or excellent.

The program significantly improved patients' Quality of Recovery scores from day 1 to day 14 and reduced the 30-day readmission rate to 6%, compared to an 18% rate in the four months prior to the study, indicating its potential effectiveness in post-surgery care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home to Stay: An Integrated Monitoring System Using a Mobile App to Support Patients at Home Following Colorectal Surgery. Keng, CJS., Goriawala, A., Rashid, S., et al.[2022]

A text-messaging system called FLO was successfully used by 16 out of 17 patients after elective colorectal surgery, demonstrating its feasibility for remote monitoring and support during recovery.

The system helped identify potential complications early, as it flagged two patients who were unwell before they were readmitted, indicating that telehealth can enhance patient safety and recovery management post-surgery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a telehealth monitoring service after colorectal surgery: A feasibility study. Bragg, DD., Edis, H., Clark, S., et al.[2020]

A digital monitoring application was developed through collaborative design with patients and health professionals to support colorectal cancer patients during the first 30 days post-surgery, aiming to improve patient care and outcomes.

The app allows patients to report concerns to healthcare providers, which can help in early identification of issues, reduce readmission rates, and enhance recovery experiences by providing timely support and relevant information.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Remote Monitoring Application to Improve Care and Support Patients in the First 30 Days Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery. Miller, M., Roxburgh, CS., McCann, L., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7786720/

An Integrated Monitoring System Using a Mobile App to ... The primary outcomes for the study were patient (1) level of uptake, (2) overall score on the QoR-15, and (3) satisfaction with the Home to Stay Program. Level ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04236128

Home to Stay Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery | ... Expected Outcomes: It is expected that the results of this trial will show that the integrated discharge monitoring system leads to a significant improvement in ...

3. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2374373520904194

An Integrated Monitoring System Using a Mobile App to ... Conclusions: The Home to Stay Program to support patients at home after colorectal surgery is feasible with high patient uptake and satisfaction ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33457571/

An Integrated Monitoring System Using a Mobile App to ... The Home to Stay Program to support patients at home after colorectal surgery is feasible with high patient uptake and satisfaction.

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04968145

Home To Stay: a Randomized Trial Evaluating a Post-discharge ... Home to Stay: An Integrated Monitoring System Using a Mobile App to Support Patients at Home Following Colorectal Surgery. J Patient Exp. 2020 Dec;7(6):1241 ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/250197/home-to-stay-mobile-app-for-colorectal-surgery/

Home to Stay Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery The results of this pilot work provided compelling data to suggest that this integrated discharge monitoring system was feasible, highly rated ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/362915093_Home_to_stay_a_randomized_controlled_trial_protocol_to_assess_use_of_a_mobile_app_to_reduce_readmissions_following_colorectal_surgery

A randomized controlled trial protocol to assess use of a ... The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with unplanned hospital visits within 30 days of discharge. The secondary outcomes are patient reported ...

8. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-4-2021-086af

Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery Recovery The Home to Stay integrated discharge monitoring system was successfully used by 93 out of 106 patients after colorectal surgery, showing high patient ...