Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36066921›Full record

ArticleJMIR medical informatics2022

Use of a Semiautomatic Text Message System to Improve Satisfaction With Wait Time in the Adult Emergency Department: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

Frederic Ehrler, Jessica Rochat, Johan N Siebert, Idris Guessous, Christian Lovis, Hervé Spechbach

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR medical informatics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

6 authors.

Frederic EhrlerDivision of Medical Information Sciences, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9734-3242
Jessica RochatDivision of Medical Information Sciences, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8438-6745
Johan N SiebertFaculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2871-3382
Idris GuessousDivision of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0491-6089
Christian LovisDivision of Medical Information Sciences, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2681-8076
Hervé SpechbachFaculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0755-1257

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany factors influence patient satisfaction during an emergency department (ED) visit, but the perception of wait time plays a central role. A long wait time in the waiting room increases the risk of hospital-acquired infection, as well as the risk of a patient leaving before being seen by a physician, particularly those with a lower level of urgency who may have to wait for a longer time.

objectiveWe aimed to improve the perception of wait time through the implementation of a semiautomatic SMS text message system that allows patients to wait outside the hospital and facilitates the recall of patients closer to the scheduled time of meeting with the physician.

methodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the system using a tailored questionnaire to assess the patient perspective and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology questionnaire for the caregiver perspective. We also monitored the frequency of system use with logs.

resultsA total of 110 usable responses were collected (100 patients and 10 caregivers). Findings revealed that 97 of 100 (97%) patients were satisfied, with most patients waiting outside the ED but inside the hospital. The caregiver evaluation showed that it was very easy to use, but the adoption of the system was more problematic because of the perceived additional workload associated with its use.

conclusionsAlthough not suitable for all patients, our system allows those who have a low-severity condition to wait outside the waiting room and to be recalled according to the dedicated time defined in the Swiss Emergency Triage Scale. It not only has the potential to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection but also can enhance the patient experience; additionally, it was perceived as a real improvement. Further automation of the system needs to be explored to reduce caregiver workload and increase its use.

Indexed as

emergencyemergency departmenthealth servicepatient satisfactionquality of careservice-oriented health care

Identifiers

PMID36066921
PMCPMC9490523

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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.