iWOUND telemedicine application in the practice of the surgical department - who uses it?

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Despite being a potentially avoidable complication, surgical site infection (SSI) remains the most common cause of postoperative complications in surgical wards. Timely medical consultation plays a crucial role in outpatient wound care when concerning symptoms related to wound healing arise. However, an excessive number of inpatient visits leads to a significant increase in patients attending general surgery clinics and the associated costs of postoperative care. Telemedicine (TM) may offer a solution to this problem. The iWound application facilitates wound healing monitoring and may aid in early detection of SSI symptoms.<br><br><b>Aim:</b> Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the group of patients utilizing the iWound application, conclusion of this analysis are included in this manuscript.<br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> The study was conducted among adult patients who underwent either elective or emergency surgical procedures. Patients received access to the application during hospitalization for postoperative monitoring. Surveys regarding the use of the iWound application in the form of observation journals were conducted within 30 days postoperatively. The study does not bear the characteristics of a medical experiment, which was certified by the Bioethics Committee of the Poznań University of Medical Sciences, number 911/23.<br><br><b>Results:</b> The study included 104 participants aged 18-86 years, with 85.6% utilizing the application. The highest percentage of iWound users was observed in the 18-45 age group (94.4%). All participants who completed therapy with iWound reported satisfaction with its use during the recovery period. Four users developed SSI.<br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> The iWound application was most frequently utilized by younger individuals residing in urban areas and cigarette smokers. There was a higher percentage of willingness to use the application for postoperative wound monitoring among individuals undergoing major and emergency surgical procedures.