Digital tools for post‐discharge surveillance of surgical site infection

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing 2024-01, Vol.80 (1), p.96-109
• Main Authors: Dalcól, Camila, Tanner, Judith, Brito Poveda, Vanessa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aftercare; Arthroplasty; Cesarean section; Clinical research; Clinical trials; Cohort analysis; Health Personnel; Health services; Humans; Infections; Intellectual property; mobile applications; Patient Discharge; Patient satisfaction; Patients; perioperative nursing; Policy making; Portable computers; Prospective Studies; Prototypes; public health surveillance; Questionnaires; Surgery; Surgical site infections; surgical wound infection; Surgical Wound Infection - epidemiology; Surveillance; Technology; Underreporting
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.15830

Aims Conduct a scoping review on the development and use of digital tools for post‐discharge surgical site infection surveillance. Design Scoping review. Data Sources Science Direct, PubMed, Embase, Literatura Latino‐Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched from 2013 to May 2022. Six intellectual property registries were reviewed from 2013 to 2022. Review Methods The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute model, and included intellectual property records (applications, prototypes and software) and scientific articles published in any language on the development and/or testing of digital tools for post‐discharge surveillance of surgical site infection among surgical patients aged 18 and over. Results One intellectual property record and 13 scientific articles were identified, covering 10 digital tools. The intellectual property record was developed and registered by a China educational institution in 2018. The majority of manuscripts were prospective cohort studies and randomized clinical trials, published between 2016 and 2022, and more than half were conducted in the United States. The population included adult patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, vascular, abdominal, arthroplasty and caesarean surgery. The main functionalities of the digital tools were the previously prepared questionnaire, the attachment of a wound image, the integrated Web system and the evaluation of data by the health team, with post‐discharge surgical site infection surveillance time between 14 and 30 days after surgery. Conclusion Digital tools show promise for the surveillance of surgical site infection, collaborating with the early detection of wound infection. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Mobile technology was favourable for detecting surgical site infections, reducing unnecessary visits to the health service, and increasing patient satisfaction. Impact Technological advances in the health area open new perspectives for post‐discharge surveillance of surgical site infection. What is Already Known? There is underreporting of surgical site infections due to difficulties related to traditional methods of post‐discharge surveillance. The use of digital tools within surgical site infection surveillance is increasing. Benefits of using digital tools within surgical site infection surveillance have been reported. What has this Study Added to our Knowledge? This scoping review is o