Quick response codes may enhance patient knowledge of cast care after fracture
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Results showed use of quick response codes for nonsurgical care of pediatric casts after fracture may enhance patient and parent knowledge and prevent unnecessary calls to the treating physician.
John Schlechter, DO, FAAOS, and colleagues placed a laminated, waterproof quick response (QR) code on the cast of 50 children with nonsurgically treated fractures. Researchers collected data on cast complications, the number of times the QR code was scanned, who scanned the code, time of day scanned, treatment satisfaction and whether the QR code helped prevent a call to the treating physician.
Results showed the QR code was scanned an average of 1.3 times among the children who completed follow-up, with the code scanned most of the time by a parent. Although 32 patients scanned the code, researchers found 82% of the 50 patients reported being very satisfied with the convenience associated with having a QR code on their cast. Researchers also noted 90% of patients found it convenient and useful to have the QR code on their cast. Within the cohort, results showed seven cast complications, including six wet casts and one case of rash/skin maceration without a wet cast. According to results, 19 of the 32 patients who scanned the QR code reported the information found on the website kept them from needing to contact the treating physician to ask a cast care question.
“With patients of all ages, especially children, we are always trying to mitigate cast-related issues that can lead to unwanted emergency room visits. Most cast complications are due to a wet cast,” Schlechter told Healio Orthopedics. “With QR codes, we can point patients and their caregivers to the exact website needed to access physician-specific information, which reassures them and provides reliable information.” – by Casey Tingle
References:
Basso-Williams M, et al. Poster 0223. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 24-28, 2020 (meeting canceled). Can QR codes make a difference for children in casts? Available at: https://www.aaos.org/aaos-home/newsroom/press-releases/aaos-releases-clinical-news-qr-codes-for-cast-care/. Accessed May 29, 2020.
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