Leveraging User-Friendly Mobile Medical Devices to Facilitate Early Hospital Discharges in a Pediatric Setting: A Randomized Trial Study Protocol

Gianvincenzo Zuccotti; Marta Marsilio; Laura Fiori; Paola Erba; Francesca Destro; Costantino Zamana; Laura Folgori; Anna Mandelli; Davide Braghieri; Chiara Guglielmetti; Martina Pisarra; Letizia Magnani; Gabriele Infante; Dario Dilillo; Valentina Fabiano; Patrizia Carlucci; Elena Zoia; Gloria Pelizzo; Valeria Calcaterra

doi:10.3390/children11060683

Leveraging User-Friendly Mobile Medical Devices to Facilitate Early Hospital Discharges in a Pediatric Setting: A Randomized Trial Study Protocol

Children (Basel). 2024 Jun 4;11(6):683. doi: 10.3390/children11060683.

Authors

Gianvincenzo Zuccotti^{1

2}, Marta Marsilio³, Laura Fiori², Paola Erba², Francesca Destro⁴, Costantino Zamana⁴, Laura Folgori², Anna Mandelli⁵, Davide Braghieri^{1

2}, Chiara Guglielmetti³, Martina Pisarra³, Letizia Magnani³, Gabriele Infante³, Dario Dilillo², Valentina Fabiano^{1

2}, Patrizia Carlucci², Elena Zoia⁵, Gloria Pelizzo^{1

4}, Valeria Calcaterra^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy.
² Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy.
³ Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
⁴ Pediatric Surgery Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy.
⁵ Intensive Care Unit, Buzzi Children's Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Mobile technology is increasingly prevalent in healthcare, serving various purposes, including remote health monitoring and patient self-management, which could prove beneficial to early hospital discharges.

Aims: This study investigates the transitional care program experience facilitating early discharges in a pediatric setting through the use of an easy-to-use mobile medical device (TytoCare™, TytoCare Ltd., Natanya, Israel).

Outcomes: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of telehomecare in achieving complete resolution of diseases without readmission, compare the length of stay between intervention and standard care groups, and gather user and professional experiences.

Methods: A randomized open-label, controlled pilot study enrolled 102 children, randomly assigned to the telehomecare (TELE) group (n = 51, adopting early hospital discharge with continued home monitoring) or the standard-of-care (STAND) group (n = 51). Primary outcomes include complete disease resolution without readmission. Secondary objectives include recording a shorter length of stay in the intervention group. Surveys on user and professional experiences were conducted. A group of 51 children declining telemedicine services (NO-TELE) was also included.

Results: In the TELE group, 100% of children achieved complete disease resolution without readmission, with a median duration of stay of 4 days, significantly shorter than the 7 days in the STAND group (p = 0.01). The telemedicine system demonstrated efficient performance and high satisfaction levels. The NO-TELE group showed no significant differences in demographics or digital technology competence. Perceived benefits of telemedicine included time and cost savings, reduced hospital stays, and technology utility and usability.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that user-friendly mobile medical devices effectively facilitate early hospital discharges in a pediatric setting. These devices serve as a bridge between home and hospital, optimizing care pathways.

Keywords: children; early hospital discharges; medical devices; pediatrics; user-friendly mobile.

Grants and funding

Project performed within the MUSA—Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action—project, funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP, project code ECS00000037) Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Strengthening of research structures and creation of R&D “innovation ecosystems”, set up of “territorial leaders in R&D” and with the extraordinary research support of Fondazione Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi (Milan, Italy).