The Role of Patient and Parent Education in Pediatric Cast Complications

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Care
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Cast immobilization is standard for pediatric fractures, but complications cause significant healthcare burdens.
• Current cast care education methods may be insufficient, leading to emergency visits and patient morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a multimodal cast care education protocol to decrease cast complications in pediatric patients.
• To assess the impact of a digital, accessible cast care resource on complication rates.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project involved patients (0-18 years) receiving cast immobilization.
• A QR code on casts linked to a website with text, picture, and video instructions for cast care.
• Data collected included complication incidence, type, workflow effects, and patient demographics.

Main Results:

• The overall complication rate decreased by 7.6% during the 6-week study period.
• While not statistically significant, the trend suggests a positive impact of the educational intervention.
• Specific complication types and their impact on workflow were documented.

Conclusions:

• Continuous access to clinic-specific cast instructions, delivered via QR codes, shows potential in decreasing pediatric cast complications.
• This digital patient education strategy is adaptable across medical specialties to improve care and reduce complications.