This study is testing whether a smartphone app can help patients better follow instructions before and after shoulder surgery, compared to the usual paper instructions.
People from all backgrounds sometimes have trouble understanding or remembering everything needed to prepare for surgery and recover safely - things like when to stop certain medications, how to shower with a special soap before surgery, or how to care for a wound afterward. Missing these steps can lead to surgery being delayed or canceled, or to problems during recovery. These difficulties can be greater for patients facing barriers such as limited health information, language differences, or lack of support at home.
This study includes adults having planned shoulder arthroscopy (a type of shoulder surgery) at Johns Hopkins. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one will receive the standard printed instructions currently used in clinic, and the other will receive the same instructions through an app on the smartphone. The app also pulls basic information from the patient's electronic health record - surgery type, date, surgeon, and medications - so instructions can be tailored to each patient. Patients using the app confirm when each step is completed, such as taking a medication or showering before surgery, and also report on how the participant is doing after surgery, which is shared with the patient's care team.
The goal is to see whether the app helps patients follow instructions more closely, improves the patient's experience and recovery, and reduces the workload on nurses and clinic staff - particularly for patients who face more barriers to care.