Evaluating a Mobile App to Support Recovery and Reduce Readmissions After Elective Colorectal Surgery

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate an integrated discharge monitoring system using a mobile application designed to support patients after colorectal surgery. Colorectal surgery patients often experience high rates of unplanned hospital visits, including readmissions and emergency room visits, which cause distress and increased healthcare costs. The trial is a randomized controlled study conducted at three Canadian hospitals to compare the new system with standard follow-up care for patients discharged after elective colorectal surgery. Participants will be divided into two groups the intervention group will receive usual care plus access to the mobile app, while the control group will receive standard follow-up care alone. The app is provided starting on postoperative day 3, with patients receiving daily health check emails from discharge day through 30 days afterward. These checks include tailored questionnaires that assess recovery symptoms and provide guidance or alerts to the healthcare team if concerning responses occur. During the study, participants will complete daily health checks via the app, which summarize their recovery status and offer action recommendations. The healthcare team monitors responses in real time and may contact patients if needed. Researchers will measure the rate of unplanned hospital visits within 30 days of discharge, as well as patient-reported quality of recovery and confidence in managing their own health care at 4 weeks post-discharge. The total study duration extends up to 3 years with ongoing monitoring.

Home to Stay Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery