None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
We performed an audit to determine the extent of prolonged and excessive fasting amongst elective surgery patients. We aimed to compare the actual fasting times of elective surgery patients to the recommended fasting times as per our institution’s guidelines. Additionally, we completed a quality improvement project aiming to determine whether notification of fasting times by short message service (SMS) the day before surgery would improve fasting times and reduce excessive fasting. We hypothesised that the usage of an SMS reminder one day prior to surgery would assist patients in adhering to fasting guidelines and thus reduce excessive fasting.
Interventions
- Participants in the intervention group received an additional prompt one day prior to surgery via a short-message service (SMS) containing a reminder of fasting times, in addition to receiving fasting guidelines as per the standard hospital policy.
- The SMS was sent once only, the day prior to surgery.
- A dedicated perioperative staff member confirmed the theatre list for the following day and then the SMS was sent times to the patient’s registered mobile phone with fasting times. SMS messag
- Participants in the intervention group received an additional prompt one day prior to surgery via a short-message service (SMS) containing a reminder of fasting times, in addition to receiving fasting guidelines as per the standard hospital policy. - The SMS was sent once only, the day prior to surgery. - A dedicated perioperative staff member confirmed the theatre list for the following day and then the SMS was sent times to the patient’s registered mobile phone with fasting times. SMS messages were sent by staff of the pre-operative day stay unit who were aware of the study protocol. - The SMS was in the English language, clearly articulating the fasting times for both solids and liquids. - Morning list patients were advised to “fast from midnight for solids” and “from 06:30 for liquids”. The afternoon list patients were advised to “fast from 07:30 for solids” and “from 11:30 for liquids”. Solids were described as a “very light meal e.g. cereal or toast”. Clear fluids were described “water, clear cordial or apple juice, or black tea or black coffee with NO milk”.
Sponsors
A/Prof Laurence Weinberg
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
we included adult patients (>18 years) undergoing elective surgery with a day of surgery admission.
Exclusion criteria
We excluded patients undergoing emergency procedures, morbid obesity (body mass index > 35kg/m2), patients with previous gastric or bypass surgery, history of delayed gastric emptying, pregnant patients, and all inpatients.
Outcome results
None listed