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Patient-initiated self-reporting through mobile device---A new mode of physician-patient interaction
The continuous maintenance of patient-physician relationship relies on the visit of patients at physician’s office. Through such visit, physicians collect chief complaints and conducting a series of steps for the final management decision making. Thus patients' physical showing is of prime necessity for patient-physician interaction. Such requirement has much inconvinence both for patients and physicians.
Materials and Methods:
During the past 2.5 years, our research team has designed an application (App) via smart cell phone (SCP) or other mobile device (MD) with function of patient-initiated self-reporting about their symptoms/ activities related to their own disease management. For pediatric patients, the self-reporting is performed by their primary caregivers. The interval of self reporting is designated by the physicians at time of clinical visit. The physicians check his own SCP/MD to review the messages sent by the patients, and give direction regarding further management planning including next visit date.
Results:
During the past 2.5 years, we have enrolled 1152 patients to join the program. Their self-reporting interval ranged from 0.5 day to 1 year. The majority of self-reporting interval lies in 1week-1 month. The primary acceptance rate is 98.6%. The patients/ patients’ primary caregivers showed a remarkablely high satisfication for the program. The revisit need was thus diminished.
Discussion:
Utilization of SCP or other MD has been increasing popular during the past several years. Its role in medical practice can not be overlooked. Our self-developed App to modify conventional practice for maintenance of patient-physician relationship and our preliminary experience demonstrate its applicability. The patient-initiated self-reporting role will enhance the presentation of their clinical problems and allow physician to find the solution related to patients diseases state in select patient population.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsProvision of health care to the public
Learning Objectives:
Formulate a direct, effective patient-physician communication mode bypass conventional physical appearing of patients in physician’s office and/or direct phone talk.
Keyword(s): Information Technology, Health Care Delivery
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have designed and conduct this study to evaluate the doctor-patient communication.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.