Medical Alert Cards for Pediatric Patients With Antegrade Continence Enemas to Enhance Awareness

The antegrade continence enema (ACE) is a surgical technique that establishes a route for colonic irrigation, necessitating a detailed comprehension of the procedural methodology, including the conduit construction, the catheters selection, and the administration of irrigation solutions. It is critical to disseminate comprehensive information regarding ACE procedures to health-care professionals and caregivers to enhance their understanding and support management of patients undergoing this intervention. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel educational tool designed to augment the knowledge base of physicians and caregivers regarding ACE procedures.

Medical alert cards were conceptualized for patients managed with ACEs via an appendicostomy, neoappendicostomy, or cecostomy. These cards included essential information such as (1) contact details of the health-care team, (2) specifics of the surgical procedure, (3) criteria for emergency department referral, and (4) bespoke patient-specific information. A single-institution survey was conducted to assess the cards' role in improving awareness of ACE procedures among health-care providers and caregivers and guiding management of patients with ACEs. The study adhered to Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies guidelines.

Twenty-seven responses were collected from 18 health-care providers and nine caregivers. A significant majority (n = 24, 88%) affirmed the cards' effectiveness in providing detailed information about individual patients. The design and layout of the card were well-received by 93% (n = 25) of respondents, with a median readability score of 8 (interquartile range 7-10). Additionally, some providers (n = 3, 17%) highlighted the card's utility in facilitating patient referrals to specialized care centers. Suggestions for improvement included adding information about different types of tubes, enhancing readability, and optimizing the visual representation of the conduit.

Medical alert cards demonstrated a significant potential to improve understanding of ACEs among health-care providers and caregivers. The cards aid in informing stakeholders about the ACE procedure, guiding the child's management, and referring the patients to specialized care facilities when necessary.