Patient activation intervention to facilitate participation in recovery after total knee replacement (MIME): a cluster randomised cross-over trial

BACKGROUND: Patient participation in care is a fundamental element of safe and high-quality healthcare with the potential to enhance health outcomes and improve patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of a clinician-facilitated, bedside multimedia (MyStay) intervention designed to support patient participation in their recovery after total knee replacement surgery. The primary outcome was patients' reported worst pain intensity on postoperative day 3. Secondary outcomes were patient activation, length of hospital stay, knee function and satisfaction with care. METHODS: Unmasked, cluster randomised, four-period cross-over trial with a simultaneous process evaluation within in a large private, not-for-profit, metropolitan teaching hospital. Statistical analyses used linear mixed models with random effects for wards, cohorts within wards and patients within cohorts and fixed effects for treatment and period. RESULTS: 241 patients were recruited between March 2014 and June 2015. Patients were admitted to intervention (104) or control (137) clusters. Intervention group patients reported significantly lower mean pain intensity scores on postoperative day 3 (6.1 vs 7.1, 95% CI -1.94 to -0.08, p=0.04). The percentages of patients who reported severe pain (score ≥7) were 43.7% and 64.2% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (χ2 9.89, p=0.002; generalised linear mixed model Wald test, p=0.05). Intervention group patients on average stayed in hospital one less day (5.3 vs 6.3, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.94, p=0.04), reported higher activation (45.1% vs 27.1% at level 4 activation) (p=0.04) and higher overall satisfaction with care (9.3 vs 8.6, 95% CI 1.09 to 0.219, p=0.01), and were more likely to refer family or friends to the health service (9.3 vs 8.7, 95% CI 1.07 to 0.13, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The clinician-facilitated, MyStay bedside multimedia intervention enhanced patients' activation and participation in their care after surgery; pain intensity and length of stay in hospital were reduced and patients were more satisfied with their care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12614000340639 (http://www.anzctr.org.au/default.aspx).