The NOTICE Study: Neurosurgery and OrThopedIcs Communication Evaluation Study Following Lumbar Fusions
Duke University
Summary
The purpose of this single-blind, randomized, controlled study is to assess the efficacy of "informative text messages" vs "traditional handouts" provided to lumbar spine surgery patients post-operatively.
Description
A total of 224 adult patients (18 years or older) undergoing spinal fusion surgery at Duke University Hospital, will be recruited from the Duke Department of Neurosurgery and the Duke Department of Orthopedics. Participants will be consented and will complete standard of care outcomes questionnaires (Visual Analogue Scale, Oswestry Disability Index and Euro-Quol 5D) at the pre-operative clinic visit for baseline comparison. Participants will be randomized, through REDCap, with equal probability to either: A) the control group, with standard post-surgery handouts, or B) the experimental group,…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Primary lumbar fusion 1-4 levels 2. 18 years or older 3. Degenerative spine diagnosis 4. Answers YES to all the following screening questions: * Do you own a mobile phone that is capable of sending and receiving text messages? * Do you know how to text and feel comfortable texting? * Are you a regular (at least once a day) text-message user? * Are you agreeable to regular contact? Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior lumbar fusions 2. Tumors/infection/trauma 3. Prisoners or institutionalized patients 4. Non-English speaking patients 5. Patients who smokes or with…
Interventions
- OtherText Message Group
The intervention group will receive automated text messages every day for the first week, and every other day for the second week post-operatively. The text messages will follow a series of pre-defined standardized scripts (Appendix 3) with embedded hyperlinks to a video from the providers with further advice. The patient is directed not to respond to the text messages, but to call for any questions or concerns. The text message group will receive a 30-day post-operative phone call to evaluate: number of ED visits, hospital readmissions, and to re-administer the questionnaires completed at baseline visit. Other data to be collected may include the following: number of phone calls to provider, MyChart messages to provider, pain medications, and new problems like pain and infection.
Location
- Duke Neurosurgery and Duke OrthopedicsDurham, North Carolina