Telehealth Follow-Up for Surgery

Not yet recruiting at 3 trial locations

Overseen By Edward L Jones, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Disqualifiers: Permanent sutures, wound vacuum, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if telehealth (via phone or video calls) can safely replace in-person check-ups after surgery for veterans, particularly those in rural areas. It compares the safety and satisfaction of patients and doctors between telehealth and traditional face-to-face follow-ups. The trial includes veterans who have undergone general or cancer-related surgeries but excludes those with specific post-surgery needs, such as permanent stitches or wound care devices. If successful, telehealth follow-up could simplify and enhance access to necessary care for rural patients after surgery. As an unphased trial, this study allows veterans to contribute to research that could significantly improve the accessibility of post-surgery care.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on telehealth follow-up after surgery, so it's best to consult with the trial coordinators or your doctor for guidance on your medications.

What prior data suggests that telehealth follow-up is safe for postoperative care?

Research has shown that follow-up appointments through telehealth after surgery are generally safe and well-received by patients. Studies have found that virtual follow-ups can reduce the likelihood of hospital readmissions and help prevent infections that might occur during in-person visits. For example, reviews of cancer surgeries found that patients were satisfied with virtual follow-ups and did not experience more missed health issues compared to traditional visits. One study showed that patients effectively maintained their follow-up schedules and care plans using telehealth.

These findings suggest that telehealth can serve as a safe and convenient alternative to in-person visits for surgical follow-up, without compromising the quality of care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about telehealth follow-ups after surgery because they offer a convenient, flexible alternative to traditional in-person visits. Unlike standard post-surgery care that requires patients to travel to a healthcare facility, telehealth allows for check-ups via phone, reducing the burden of travel and time, especially for those with mobility issues or living in remote areas. This approach can lead to increased patient satisfaction and adherence to follow-up care, potentially improving outcomes. Additionally, telehealth can streamline healthcare delivery, freeing up resources and time for both patients and providers.

What evidence suggests that telehealth follow-up is effective for postoperative care?

Research has shown that telehealth check-ups after surgery are effective and safe. In this trial, some participants will follow up via telehealth, while others will have in-person follow-ups. Studies indicate that patients are highly satisfied with telehealth, and it saves time compared to visiting the doctor in person. For instance, one study found no difference in safety, such as hospital readmissions, between telehealth and regular follow-ups after heart surgery. Another study found that using an app for telehealth improved recovery after cancer surgery. Overall, telehealth is a good option for post-surgery care, especially for people in rural areas who have difficulty attending in-person appointments. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for US Veterans undergoing elective general or surgical oncology procedures, who can participate in follow-ups via telehealth. It's not suitable for those with permanent sutures, wound vacuums, staples, or drains needing removal in person.

Inclusion Criteria

I am scheduled for or have had surgery related to cancer.

Exclusion Criteria

I have devices like sutures or drains from surgery that need a doctor to remove them.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Surgery

Participants undergo elective general surgical procedures

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Postoperative Follow-up

Participants are randomized to follow-up in person or via telehealth to evaluate safety and satisfaction

6 weeks

Bi-monthly visits (virtual or in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telehealth follow-up

Trial Overview The study tests if postoperative follow-up through telehealth is as safe and satisfying as in-person visits for both rural and urban veterans after surgery. Participants are randomly chosen to have either virtual or face-to-face check-ups.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Telehealth Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will follow-up via phone after surgery

Group II: In-Person Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients will follow-up in-person after surgery

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

55

Recruited

26,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A randomized controlled trial involving 123 patients showed that telemedicine follow-up after uncomplicated general surgeries is safe, with no significant differences in complication rates compared to face-to-face follow-ups.

Patient satisfaction was high, with 40% of telemedicine patients reporting high satisfaction and 60% reporting very high satisfaction, while consultation times were significantly shorter for telemedicine (10.5 minutes) compared to in-person visits (15.9 minutes).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telemedicine versus face-to-face follow up in general surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Fink, T., Chen, Q., Chong, L., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9659327/

Impact of postoperative telemedicine visit versus in-person ... Postoperative telemedicine visits were a safe and time-efficient option that maintained high patient satisfaction compared with in-person postoperative visits.

2. obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijgo.70350?af=R

Telemedicine in support of post‐surgical follow‐up: A useful ... This study assesses the feasibility and patient satisfaction associated with the use of telemedicine for postoperative follow-up after ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273623002863

Results of a postoperative telemedicine trial after cardiac ... Telehealth is a viable method for follow-up after discharge to expedite recovery. ... Hospital 30-day readmission rates after cardiac surgery range between 8% and ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2802992

Effect of Smartphone App Postoperative Home Monitoring ... Postoperative follow-up that incorporates app-assisted monitoring improves patients' quality of recovery following oncologic surgery.

5. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.21.00819

Adoption of Telemedicine for Postoperative Follow-Up After ... Secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission, length of stay (LOS) of first readmission, and mortality. Any unscheduled hospital admission ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9458545/

The safety and acceptability of using telehealth for follow-up of ... This review aims to examine the feasibility, safety, and patient satisfaction with virtual follow-up appointments after cancer operations.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11634097/

Enhancing postoperative care with telemedicine and ... Telemedicine offers virtual follow-up visits, reducing hospital readmissions for regular examinations. This lowers the danger of nosocomial ...

8. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818102

Digital Health Interventions and Patient Safety in ... Overall, the studies reported high levels of patient compliance and satisfaction with telehealth technologies in perioperative management.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0748798322006485

The safety and acceptability of using telehealth for follow- ... This review aims to examine the feasibility, safety, and patient satisfaction with virtual follow-up appointments after cancer operations.

10. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03791697

NCT03791697 | Telehealth Postop Follow up RCT A randomized controlled trial that will evaluate whether telephone two-week postoperative follow up visits are an acceptable and safe alternative to traditional ...