Smartphone Use and Interest in a Spine Surgery Recovery Mobile Application Among Patients in a US Academic Neurosurgery Practice.

BACKGROUND: Mobile applications (apps) are serving an increasingly important role in healthcare for patients and providers alike. In addition to streamlining active communication of patient-reported outcomes regarding quality of life, pain, and opioid consumption, smartphones equipped with activity tracking afford the opportunity to passively and objectively measure mobility, a key metric of recovery in spine surgery. However, app development is a resource-intensive process. OBJECTIVE: To survey adult neurosurgery patients regarding access to and interest in this platform. METHODS: In June and July 2017, a paper-based anonymous survey was distributed to patients in the waiting room of the adult neurosurgery clinic of a large US academic medical center. Patients' smartphone use and interest in using a mobile app following spine surgery were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Of 146 included responses, 102 patients (70%) regularly used a smartphone, and this number increased to 77% among patients with a history of spine surgery (n = 66, 45% of respondents). Seventy-one percent of patients with previous spine surgery expressed an interest in using a postoperative monitoring and communication app, compared to 81% of patients without prior spine operations (n = 80, 55%). CONCLUSION: Among neurosurgery patients, there is a high level of access to and interest in smartphone apps to aid postoperative recovery. These results are useful for other neurosurgeons considering mobile app development for this purpose.

Duke Scholars

Author Brandon Wayne Smith Neurosurgery