Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of using a mobile application (app) called how2trak to improve people's experience, wound surveillance, and detection of surgical site infections (SSI) after colorectal surgery while reducing in-person interactions for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will inform the implementation of a full-scale trial to establish if surveillance of someone's incision and symptoms using how2trak improves SSI detection and management compared to standard care (involving a single post-operative surgery clinic visit). The data collected will contribute to a broader dataset of people with SSI surveillance to be used in developing a clinical decision support system.


Clinical Trial Description

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common nosocomial infection and occur in 16.3% of individuals undergoing colorectal surgery at our institution, the majority of which are identified after discharge from hospital. Patients concerned to have an SSI, generally present to the emergency department or surgery clinic. Both options for in-person interaction are costly to the healthcare system and patients, and increase their risk of COVID-19 exposure. A mobile application How2trak has proven to be beneficial for patients with complex wounds at our institution by facilitating at-home monitoring and virtual consultations. Aim: This study aims to assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to assess if How2trak can improve patients' experience, and detection of surgical site infections after colorectal surgery while reducing their risk of COVID-19 exposure. Methods: In this single-center, prospective feasibility trial, eligible patients undergoing elective and semi-urgent colorectal surgery will be randomized to either standard care or How2trak post-operative monitoring of their incision, symptoms, and ostomy function. Patient self-assessments will be monitored by a nurse specialized in wound and ostomy care who will meet virtually with the patient as needed. The primary outcome is feasibility as measured by enrollment, randomization, H2T usability, data extraction, and resource capacity. Results: We anticipate this work will help us to better understand the feasibility of using mobile technology to optimize patients' care after discharge from hospital after colorectal surgery. Virtual post-surgery wound and symptom monitoring could enhance patient experience, SSI detection, and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If this technology is feasible for our patient population and workflow, next steps will be to assess its effectiveness with a full-scale randomized controlled trial and explore additional applications including ostomy monitoring, patient education, and application in other surgical departments. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04869774
Study type Interventional
Source University of Ottawa
Contact Reilly Musselman, MD, MSc
Phone 613-798-5555
Email rmusselman@toh.ca
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date May 2021
Completion date February 2022

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Active, not recruiting NCT04096885 - The Inselspital Surgical Cohort Study
Terminated NCT03820648 - Wound Protector Dual-ring Alexis® in Pancreaticoduodenectomy N/A
Completed NCT04067843 - Effect of Photodynamic Treatment on Skin Microbiome. Single Center Study N/A
Terminated NCT04042077 - Delafloxacin IV and OS Administration Compared to Best Available Therapy in Patients With Surgical Site Infections Phase 3
Completed NCT05841576 - Anaesthetic Management Guided by COMET Measurements N/A
Withdrawn NCT05338281 - NPWT for Abdominal Incisions in DIEP Reconstructions: A RCT N/A
Recruiting NCT03042091 - Neomycin and Metronidazole Hydrochloride With or Without Polyethylene Glycol in Reducing Infection in Patients Undergoing Elective Colorectal Surgery Early Phase 1
Completed NCT01697748 - Prospective Study on Cesarean Wound Outcomes N/A
Terminated NCT01789697 - Text Message Study N/A
Recruiting NCT05966961 - Novosyn® CHD vs Polyglactin 910 Suture to Close Wounds After Emergency or Elective Laparotomy or Laparoscopic Surgery
Recruiting NCT05077592 - Addition of Pre-wound Closure Povidone Iodine Wash Versus Direct Wound Closure Effect on Surgical Site Infections Phase 4
Recruiting NCT05502380 - Broad-spectrum Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Tumor and Infected Orthopedic Surgery Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05763602 - PVI to Prevent S. Aureus SSI After Fixation of HELEF (POTENT Study) Phase 4
Recruiting NCT03221023 - Intrawound Vancomycin Prophylaxis for Neural Stimulator Phase 2/Phase 3
Completed NCT03257202 - Topical Treatment and Prevalence of P. Acnes Phase 2
Completed NCT06154720 - Surgical Site Infection After Episiotomy Repair Related to Routine Use of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Low-Risk Population
Not yet recruiting NCT06465901 - A Stratified, Multi-ARm, muLti-site Randomised Platform Trial Aiming to Reduce the INcidence of Post-operative SSI N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT04820075 - Efficacy of an Intervention to Improve the Preoperative Shower in Scheduled Surgery N/A
Recruiting NCT03561376 - Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery Early Phase 1
Not yet recruiting NCT04496180 - Prevena to Prevent Surgical Site Infection After Emergency Abdominal Laparotomy N/A