J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2009 Aug;20(4):445-452.

Multimedia Message Service (MMS) Improves Comprehension of Discharge Instruction in the Patients with Lacerations

• Yeon JH
• Park JG
• Jo MW

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to determine whether the use of multimedia message service (MMS) as discharge instructions about post-suture care improves patient's comprehension for those information.
METHODS
One hundred nineteen (119) patients with lacerations and their caregivers who visited the Emergency Room at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital were included in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive MMS (n=66) or paper (n=53) discharge instructions after providing informed consent to engage in this study. Within 48 hours of discharge, an investigator called each participant by phone and asked a series of questions designed to test the participant's comprehension of their discharge instructions. In addition, participants were asked to complete questionnaires about confidence, accessibility, compliance, and the usefulness of discharge instructions.
RESULTS
There were no differences in age, sex, educational background and subject (patient or caregiver) between the MMS and the paper group. In both groups, the mean and standard deviation in comprehension score was 8.1+/-1.3 and 6.6 +/-1.8, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). 'Yes' group of MMS and paper was 40(60.6%) and 16(30.2%) in accessibility, 39(59.1%) and 19(35.8%) in compliance, 26(39.3%) and 20(37.7%) in usefulness, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The use of MMS as discharge instructions for patients with laceration improves patient comprehension.

Keyword

Telecommunications; Cellular phone; Lacerations; Patient discharge; Instruction

MeSH Terms

Caregivers
Cellular Phone
Compliance
Comprehension
Emergencies
Humans
Informed Consent
Lacerations
Multimedia
Patient Discharge
Surveys and Questionnaires
Research Personnel
Telecommunications