title: Use of video-based education and tele-health home monitoring after liver transplantation: Results of a novel pilot study.
abstract: In this observational study, we analyzed the feasibility and early results of a perioperative, video-based educational program and tele-health home monitoring model on postoperative care management and readmissions for patients undergoing liver transplantation.
  
  
  
  Twenty consecutive liver transplantation recipients were provided with tele-health home monitoring and an educational video program during the perioperative period. Vital statistics were tracked and monitored daily with emphasis placed on readings outside of the normal range (threshold violations). Additionally, responses to effectiveness questionnaires were collected retrospectively for analysis.
  
  
  
  In the study, 19 of the 20 patients responded to the effectiveness questionnaire, with 95% reporting having watched all 10 videos, 68% watching some more than once, and 100% finding them effective in improving their preparedness for understanding their postoperative care. Among these 20 patients, there was an observed 19% threshold violation rate for systolic blood pressure, 6% threshold violation rate for mean blood glucose concentrations, and 8% threshold violation rate for mean weights. This subset of patients had a 90-day readmission rate of 30%.
  
  
  
  This observational study demonstrates that tele-health home monitoring and video-based educational programs are feasible in liver transplantation recipients and seem to be effective in enhancing the monitoring of vital statistics postoperatively. These data suggest that smart technology is effective in creating a greater awareness and understanding of how to manage postoperative care after liver transplantation.
authors: Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Audrey E
authors: AE
authors: Ertel
authors: Department of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati School of Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Tiffany E
authors: TE
authors: Kaiser
authors: Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Abbott
authors: Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: Shimul.shah@uc.edu.
authors: Shimul A
authors: SA
authors: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording