Patients benefit from recording postoperative instructions after ankle fracture surgery

We initiated a prospective study to assess patient comfort level and perceived utility of an audiovideo recording of post-operative instructions given that many patients demonstrate poor comprehension and retention of this information. Twenty-five adult patients who underwent surgical treatment for ankle fractures were invited to record their fracture care instructions with smartphones at their 2-week post-operative visit and administered a survey at the 6-week post-operative visit to assess their experiences. Patients rated their comfort with fracture care instructions at 9.6 ± 0.6 / 10 points and usefulness of audiovideo recording at 8.7 ± 2.1 / 10 points. All 25 patients indicated that recorded instructions made them feel more confident with their fracture care. Twenty-two (88%) reviewed their instructions after their 2-week visit. Fifteen (60%) of patients shared their instructions with someone else and 22 (88%) believe physicians should allow patients to record care instructions. Patients were comfortable recording their instructions with their surgeons and felt it was useful, increasing their confidence to properly follow their postoperative fracture care plans. Given the importance of patient adherence to post-operative instructions, surgeons should consider incorporating patient-generated recordings into their practice as an effective, efficient, and inexpensive way to improve patient care.