IT-based support applications for patient patronage after hip joint arthroplasty (preliminary report)

Abstract

Introduction The article considers the situation with modern user’s applications for patients in the post-operative period after surgical interventions, including total hip replacement. The main reasons for the emergence of a multidisciplinary field of a science, in particular between the medical and IT industries, were formulated. The aim of the study was to develop a technology for preventive analysis, control and management of patient actions at the stage of outpatient medical rehabilitation by developing and implementing a universal software platform of an application and a chatbot on a mobile device and PC. Material and methods The study presents a universal software platform on a mobile device and a PC, in which the doctor introduces personalized indications based on existing clinical recommendations that permit to target the patient's behavior in an expert-based vector of preventive measures. The paper presents the database scheme, usage scenarios, interface, and an example of a recommendation for a random patronage day. Results The comparative results in the aspect of complications in the patients who used the software product after discharge from the hospital with those in the patients without software patronage were analysed. The overall percentage of complications and of each specific one among them was significantly more frequent in the comparison group than in the observation group with IT-based support (р < 0.001). Patient satisfaction with the app was studied based on an anonymous survey, and a high satisfaction rate was revealed. Discussion The introduction of the software product into clinical work in comparison with existing analogues provided better patients’ compliance, especially in older persons with cognitive comorbidity, to targeted behavioral information, prevention of non-compliance with the medication dosage regimen and mobile activity, thus improving the long-term treatment results in patients at the stage of the rehabilitation. Conclusion It has been concluded that the results of the study indicate the feasibility and clinical validity of the development and implementation of the application developed and of similar software products.