Effect of personalised, mobile-accessible discharge instructions for patients leaving the emergency department: A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: This pilot study assessed the efficacy of personalised, printed and mobile-accessible discharge instructions for pain relief for patients discharged from the ED.

Methods: Patients presenting with pain caused by acute musculoskeletal or visceral complaints not requiring admission were eligible. Both groups received usual pain relief discharge advice, the intervention group received additional personalised printed and mobile-accessible discharge instructions. Numerical Rating Scale pain scores were measured at ED visit. Pain scores, Patient Global Impression of Change scale improvement scores, satisfaction with instructions, recall of pain relief advice, receipt of side effects advice and unscheduled visits were measured at 5 days.

Results: A total of 80 patients, recruited over 14 days, were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. Two patients were excluded and 81% (n = 65) were followed up at 5 days. There was no significant difference in change of pain scores or improvement scores between groups from visit to 5 day follow up. The intervention group showed significantly higher odds of being 'very satisfied' compared to the control group (odds ratio [OR] 7.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-50.00), significantly higher odds of full recall of pain relief medication advice (OR 20.00, 95% CI 1.56-100.00) and significantly higher odds of receiving information on medication side effects (OR 6.25, 95% CI 1.67-20.00).

Conclusions: Patients who received personalised printed and mobile-accessible ED discharge instructions for pain relief reported higher levels of satisfaction with their instructions, had better recall of their pain relief medications advice and received more information on medication side-effects.