Effect of a Smartphone Application Called “Safety Keeper” on Patients’ Knowledge of Surgery-related Adverse Events during Hospitalization: An Intervention Study

초록

Purpose: Patients who have more knowledge on adverse events related to surgery are more likely to involve in activities of safety to prevent adverse events. Thus, this study purposed a smartphone application as a way to enhance patients’ knowledge on adverse events related to surgery through an iterative process including literature review, expert consultation, and pilot testing. After then evaluating the effect of the smartphone application in terms of enhancement of patients’ knowledge on surgery-related safety issues. Methods: A non-randomized, one-group pre-/post-intervention measurement was adopted using thirty-six hospitalized patients admitted to orthopedics units in a general hospital. Patients’ knowledge regarding surgery-related adverse events such as preoperative precautions, surgical site infection, Foley catheter management, drainage management, and anesthesia-related complications were assessed with 25 true/false questions. Results: In general, the percentage of correct answers among participants increased significantly, from 47.1% to 65.9%, although some specific items did not show significant increases in the drainage management and foolery catheter management. Conclusion: The smartphone application helped to enhance patients’ knowledge of surgery-related adverse events. Nurses must put forth more effort to enhance patients’ knowledge, especially related to drainage management and Foley catheter management that were relatively lower knowledge enhancement after self-education by smartphone use.

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