Surgical site infections (SSI) are one of the most common adverse events after surgery. Assessing potential SSIs can be difficult when patients only stay in hospital for short periods of time. This is because SSIs often develop after a patient has been discharged.
The study team drafted step-by-step instructions for patients on how to take photos with smartphones or mobile devices. They used plain language and made sure that the instructions met clinical and practical requirements for photographing wounds. Researchers initially tested and revised the instructions and image submission process by conducting in-person interviews with 16 patients who’d recently undergone surgery. This was followed by remote testing with another 89 patients who had been discharged from hospital.
Paper: Macefield RC et al. (2023). Remote assessment of surgical site infection (SSI) using patient-taken wound images: Development and evaluation of a method for research and routine practice. Journal of Tissue Viability.