Key result
While 58% of patients preferred to return to the hospital in-person for symptoms of concern, over 60% preferred to communicate via telephone or technology for symptoms not of concern.
Why the study?
The healthcare setting has not yet realised the potential of technology to facilitate communication, and understanding patient preferences is essential to ensure technology-facilitated communication is safe, acceptable, and appropriate.
Cross-Sectional (n=525)
No
Patients have varied preferences for post-discharge communication, with many preferring technology or telephone for non-concerning symptoms, but in-person visits for concerning symptoms, highlighting the need for multiple communication options.
Patient preferences for post-discharge symptom communication vary by concern level and demographics; leaves open tailored technology integration in routine care.
BACKGROUND: Technology is increasingly transforming the way we interact with others and undertake activities in our daily lives. The healthcare setting has, however, not yet realised the potential of technology solutions to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. While the procedural and policy requirements of healthcare systems will ultimately drive such solutions, understanding the preferences and attitudes of patients is essential to ensure that technology implemented in the healthcare setting facilitates communication in safe, acceptable, and appropriate ways. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine patient preferences for using technology to communicate with health service providers about symptoms experienced following discharge from the hospital. METHODS: Primary data were collected from patients admitted to a large metropolitan hospital in Australia during three consecutive months in 2018. Participants were asked about their daily use of technology including use of computers, email, phone, text messaging, mobile applications, social media, online discussion forums, and videoconference. They were then asked about their use of technologies in managing their health, and preferences for use when communicating about symptoms with health service providers following discharge from hospital. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-five patients with a wide range of differing clinical conditions and demographics participated. Patients indicated they used a range of technologies in their everyday lives and to manage their health. Almost 60% of patients would prefer to return to hospital if they were experiencing symptoms of concern. However, if patients experienced symptoms that were not of concern, over 60% would prefer to communicate with the hospital via telephone or using technology. Admitting condition, income, and age were significantly associated with preferences for communication about symptoms following hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Patients have varied preferences for communicating with their health service providers post-hospital discharge. Findings suggest that some, but not all patients, would prefer to use technology to traditional methods of communicating with the healthcare team. Health services should offer patients multiple options for communicating about their recovery to ensure individual needs are appropriately met.
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Alexander et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Planned hospital admission (n=525). Technology use for communication about symptoms post-discharge vs. Traditional methods (in-person or telephone) was evaluated on Patient preferences for communicating about symptoms post-hospital discharge. While 58% of patients preferred to return to the hospital in-person for symptoms of concern, over 60% preferred to communicate via telephone or technology for symptoms not of concern.
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