Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32347352›Full record

Observational studyWorld journal of surgery2020

Feasibility of a Cellular Telephone Follow-Up Program After Injury in Sub-Saharan Africa.

S Ariane Christie, M Agbor Mbianyor, Fanny N Dissak-Delon, Mary M Tanjong, Alain Chichom-Mefire, Rochelle A Dicker, Catherine Juillard

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in World journal of surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

S Ariane ChristieDepartment of Surgery, Center for Global Surgical Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 1, Rooms 400 & 401, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
M Agbor MbianyorDepartment of Surgery, Center for Global Surgical Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 1, Rooms 400 & 401, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
Fanny N Dissak-DelonLittoral Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Public Health, Douala, Cameroon.
Mary M TanjongDepartment of Surgery, Center for Global Surgical Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 1, Rooms 400 & 401, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
Alain Chichom-MefireDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Rochelle A DickerDepartment of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 72-215 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Catherine JuillardDepartment of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 72-215 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. CJuillard@mednet.ucla.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInjury disproportionately affects persons in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Most LMIC lack capacity for routine follow-up care, likely resulting in complications and disability. Cellular telephones may provide a new tool to improve health outcomes. The objective of this study was to establish the feasibility of a mobile health follow-up program after injury in Cameroon.

methodsBetween February and October 2017, all injured patients admitted to a regional hospital in Cameroon were asked for mobile phone numbers as part of an existing trauma registry. Patients were contacted 2 weeks after leaving the hospital discharge to participate in a short triage survey. Data on program feasibility and patient condition were collected.

resultsOf 1180 injured patients who presented for emergency care, 83% provided telephone numbers, 62% were reached, and 48% (565) of all injured patients ultimately participated in telephone follow-up. Successfully contacted patients were reached after an average of 1.76 call attempts (SD 1.91) and median call time was 4.43 min (IQR 3.67-5.36). Five patients (1%) had died from their injuries at the time of follow-up. Among surveyed patients, 27% required ongoing assistance to complete activities of daily living. Nearly, half (47%) of patients reported inability to take medicines or care for their injury as instructed at discharge. Adequate pain control was achieved in only 38% of discharged patients.

conclusionPilot data suggest considerable under treatment of injury in Cameroon. Mobile telephone follow-up demonstrates potential as a feasible tool for screening discharged patients who could benefit from further care.

Indexed as

Activities of Daily LivingTelemedicineAdultAftercareCameroonCell PhoneEmergency Medical ServicesFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleOutcome Assessment, Health CarePatient DischargeProspective StudiesRegistriesSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID32347352

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.