Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34588254›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Acceptability of and symptom findings from an online symptom check-in tool for COVID-19 outpatient follow-up among a predominantly healthcare worker population.

Colm Kerr, Simon O' Regan, Donnacha Creagh, Gerry Hughes, Una Geary, Mary-Paula Colgan, Caitriona Canning, Zenia Martin, Concepta Merry, Noirin Noonan and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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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

11 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Colm KerrSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland colmkerr@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9976-8033
Simon O' ReganData Scientist, Cork, Ireland.
Donnacha CreaghInformation Management Systems, Saint James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Gerry HughesGenitourinary medicine and Infectious Diseases department (GUIDe), Saint James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Una GearyQuality and Safety Directorate, Saint James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary-Paula ColganSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Caitriona CanningSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Zenia MartinSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Concepta MerrySchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Noirin NoonanSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Colm BerginSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Trinity College Dublin · IESt. James's Hospital · IEDirectorate of Health · IS

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHealth systems worldwide have had to prepare for a surge in volume in both the outpatient and inpatient settings since the emergence of COVID-19. Early international healthcare experiences showed approximately 80% of patients with COVID-19 had mild disease and therfore could be managed as outpatients. However, SARS-CoV-2 can cause a biphasic illness with those affected experiencing a clinical deterioration usually seen after day 4 of illness.

objectiveWe created an online tool with the primary objective of allowing for virtual disease triage among the increasing number of outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 at our hospital. Secondary aims included COVID-19 education and the promotion of official COVID-19 information among these outpatients, and analysis of reported symptomatology.

methodsOutpatients with acute COVID-19 disease received text messages from the hospital containing a link to an online symptom check-in tool which they were invited to complete.

results296 unique participants (72%) from 413 contacted by text completed the online check-in tool at least once, generating 831 responses from 1324 texts sent. 83% of text recipients and 91% of unique participants were healthcare workers. 7% of responses to the tool were from participants who admitted to a slight worsening of their symptoms during follow-up. Fatigue was the most commonly reported symptom overall (79%), followed by headache (72%). Fatigue, headache and myalgia were the most frequently reported symptoms in the first 3 days of illness. 8% of responses generated in the first 7 days of illness did not report any of the cardinal symptoms (fever, cough, dyspnoea, taste/smell disturbance) of COVID-19. Participants found the tool to be useful and easy to use, describing it as 'helpful' and 'reassuring' in a follow-up feedback survey (n=140). 93% said they would use such a tool in the future. 39% reported ongoing fatigue, 16% reported ongoing smell disturbance and 14% reported ongoing dyspnoea after 6 months.

conclusionThe online symptom check-in tool was found to be acceptable to participants and saw high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Symptomatology findings highlight the variety and persistence of symptoms experienced by those with confirmed COVID-19 disease.

Indexed as

COVID-19OutpatientsFollow-Up StudiesHealth PersonnelHumansSARS-CoV-2COVID-19occupational & industrial medicinepublic health

Identifiers

PMID34588254
PMCPMC8479588
OpenAlexW3202538787

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.