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A Comparison of Two-Way Text Versus Conventional Paging Systems in an Academic Ophthalmology Department

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Abstract

Alphanumeric paging systems are unidirectional without prioritization capabilities. Newer electronic communication devices such as two-way text paging systems are capable of bidirectional paging and prioritization. While previous studies have evaluated alphanumeric paging systems in academic hospital settings, bidirectional two-way text paging systems have not been investigated. The goal of this study was to evaluate efficiency and impact on patient care delivery of a two-way text paging system compared to conventional one-way alphanumeric pagers. This unmasked, crossover prospective study was divided into three phases. In phase one, surveys were distributed to all ophthalmology attending physicians, residents, clinical technicians, and secretaries to assess the conventional alphanumeric paging system. In phase two, these participants used two-way text pagers without instruction (unstructured format) that they subsequently compared to the alphanumeric system with devised surveys assessing (on a scale of 0 to 100) time saved, increased daily efficiency, facilitation in patient care, and overall impression (helpfulness).In phase three, participants used a specific communication prioritization protocol (structured format) with the two-way text pagers with subsequent comparison and assessment with the same surveys. Compared to traditional alphanumeric pagers, new digital two-way text pagers were found to be statistically (p < 0.0001) more helpful by participants in all categories: as a time saver (80.33 vs. 56.95) p < 0.0001, increased daily efficiency (78.15 vs. 57.13) p < 0.0001, facilitation in patient care (78.79 vs. 56.95) p < 0.0001, and overall impression (helpfulness) (61.82 vs. 84.33) p < 0.0001. When compared to the alphanumeric pager, the two-way text pager was found to decrease subjectively call backs (73.6% to 45.6%, p < 0.0001), reduce interruptions of learning activities (43.63% to 26.6%, p < 0.0001) and enabled better patient care (59.8% to 42.2%, p < 0.0001). No significant statistical difference was found between the structured and unstructured system. Two-way text paging (structured versus unstructured guidance) was preferred over the conventional one-way alphanumeric paging system in every participant category. Two-way text paging is an effective alternative to alphanumeric paging, demonstrating saved time, increased daily efficiency, reduced call backs and interruptions of educational activities, and facilitation in patient care.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Thomas C. Prager and Dr. Alice Z. Chuang for their statistical assistance and critical evaluation, along with the UTMB Ophthalmology Departments and staff for their participation and making this project happen. This project would not have been possible without the generous grant donated by our UTMB Chairman of Ophthalmology, Dr. Bernard Godley.This study was also supported, in part, by grants from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. New York, New York and NEI Core Grant EY10608, Drs. Prager and Chuang.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA

    Farshid Ighani, Kapil G. Kapoor, Syed K. Gibran, Garvin H. Davis & Bernard Godley

  2. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Thomas C. Prager & Alice Z. Chuang

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  1. Farshid Ighani
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  2. Kapil G. Kapoor
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  3. Syed K. Gibran
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  4. Garvin H. Davis
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  5. Thomas C. Prager
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  6. Alice Z. Chuang
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  7. Bernard Godley
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Correspondence to Kapil G. Kapoor.

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Ighani, F., Kapoor, K.G., Gibran, S.K. et al. A Comparison of Two-Way Text Versus Conventional Paging Systems in an Academic Ophthalmology Department. J Med Syst 34, 677–684 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9281-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9281-x

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