Nurse-Led Telehealth vs In-Person Follow-Up After Total Knee Replacement
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Nurse-Led Telehealth Versus In-Person Consultations in Detecting Complications and Improving Recovery After Total Knee Replacement
1 other identifier
interventional
98
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Brief Summary The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if nurse-led telehealth consultations can help detect complications and support recovery after total knee replacement surgery. The study will compare telehealth nursing consultations to traditional in-person nursing visits. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Can nurse-led telehealth detect post-surgery complications as well as or better than in-person consultations?
- Does telehealth nursing support better or equivalent recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to in-person care? Participants will:
- Be adults who had their first total knee replacement surgery.
- Receive follow-up care either through telehealth consultations using the HA Go mobile app or through traditional face-to-face nurse visits in the outpatient clinic.
- Attend scheduled consultations and provide information about their recovery and any complications they experience.
- Complete surveys about their satisfaction with the care they receive. This study will help determine if telehealth nursing consultations can provide safe, effective, and convenient follow-up care for patients after knee replacement surgery, potentially improving access and reducing travel burdens.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Sep 2025
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
June 10, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 10, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
September 10, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
February 28, 2026
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 30, 2026
ExpectedJanuary 5, 2026
September 1, 2025
6 months
June 10, 2025
December 30, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Number of Participants with Postoperative Complications Detected Within Four Weeks Following Total Knee Replacement
This outcome measures the total number of participants in whom any postoperative complications are identified and managed during the follow-up period. Complications include both major events (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, surgical site infections) and minor issues (e.g., swelling, delayed wound healing, pain requiring intervention). The detection is based on clinical assessment during nurse-led telehealth or traditional in-person consultations.
Within 4 weeks (28 days) post-surgery
Secondary Outcomes (9)
Change in Functional Recovery as Measured by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Baseline (pre-surgery) and 3 months post-surgery
The Chinese version of the Mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire (I-C-MAUQ) (Telehealth group)
Within 4 weeks after surgery - immediately after the first telehealth follow-up consultation
Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Consultation
Within 4 weeks post-surgery, following the first consultation
Unplanned Hospital Readmissions within 28 Days Post-Surgery
28 days post-surgery
Number of Visits to Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department within 3 Months Post-Surgery
3 months post-surgery
- +4 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Nurse-Led Telehealth Consultation
EXPERIMENTALParticipants receive postoperative nursing follow-up via virtual consultations using the HA Go mobile app, a secure, hospital-approved telehealth platform. Nurses monitor recovery, assess for complications, provide education, and manage minor issues remotely. Consultations are scheduled 2 weeks post-surgery, with additional sessions as clinically indicated, lasting approximately 20-30 minutes each. Support is provided to assist patients unfamiliar with the technology. This arm tests the effectiveness of remote nursing care compared to traditional in-person visits.
Traditional In-Person Nursing Consultation
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants attend face-to-face postoperative nursing consultations at the Specialist Outpatient Department. Nurses perform physical assessments, monitor recovery progress, detect complications, provide education, and manage minor issues in-person. Follow-up visits are scheduled 2 weeks after surgery, with additional visits as needed. Consultations typically last 20-30 minutes. This arm represents standard care and serves as the active comparator to the telehealth intervention.
Interventions
Participants receive scheduled postoperative nursing consultations delivered remotely via the HA Go mobile application, a secure, hospital-approved telehealth platform. Consultations occur approximately two weeks after total knee replacement surgery, with additional sessions arranged as clinically needed within the first month post-surgery. Each telehealth session lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and includes assessment of recovery progress, monitoring for complications, patient education, and guidance on rehabilitation exercises. Patients receive technical support to facilitate effective use of the telehealth platform. This intervention leverages virtual care technology to provide convenient, accessible nursing follow-up without requiring in-person clinic visits.
Participants receive scheduled postoperative nursing consultations in person at the Specialist Outpatient Department. Each consultation lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes and includes physical assessment, monitoring for complications, patient education, and rehabilitation guidance. Follow-up visits are typically scheduled two weeks after total knee replacement surgery, with additional visits as clinically indicated. This intervention represents standard postoperative nursing care delivered face-to-face.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Undergoing their first total knee replacement surgery
- Within 4 weeks after surgery
- Medically stable for discharge and suitable for home-based follow-up care
- Have access to a smartphone and internet (for telehealth participants)
- Able to communicate effectively in Cantonese
- Provide informed consent to participate in the study
You may not qualify if:
- Undergoing bilateral or revision total knee replacement surgery
- Require immediate or intensive medical attention post-surgery (e.g., severe infection, hospitalization over 7 days)
- Have severe systemic disease (ASA physical status classification III or higher)
- Lack the technical ability or resources to participate in telehealth consultations
- Unable to communicate effectively in Cantonese
- Undergoing surgeries other than first-time total knee replacement
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Related Publications (12)
Zhao R, Cheng L, Zheng Q, Lv Y, Wang YM, Ni M, Ren P, Feng Z, Ji Q, Zhang G. A Smartphone Application-Based Remote Rehabilitation System for Post-Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Arthroplasty. 2024 Mar;39(3):575-581.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.08.019. Epub 2023 Aug 11.
PMID: 37572720RESULTWindsor EN, Sharma AK, Gkiatas I, Elbuluk AM, Sculco PK, Vigdorchik JM. An Overview of Telehealth in Total Joint Arthroplasty. HSS J. 2021 Feb;17(1):51-58. doi: 10.1177/1556331620972629. Epub 2021 Feb 21.
PMID: 33967642RESULTVisperas AT, Greene KA, Krebs VE, Klika AK, Piuzzi NS, Higuera-Rueda CA. A Web-Based Interactive Patient-Provider Software Platform Does Not Increase Patient Satisfaction or Decrease Hospital Resource Utilization in Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Patients in a Single Large Hospital System. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Jul;36(7):2290-2296.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2021.01.037. Epub 2021 Jan 21.
PMID: 33581971RESULTShan Y, Ji M, Xie W, Li R, Qian X, Zhang X, Hao T. Chinese Version of the Mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire: Translation, Adaptation, and Validation Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Jul 6;6(7):e37933. doi: 10.2196/37933.
PMID: 35793132RESULTPitaro NL, Barbera JP, Ranson WA, Zubizarreta N, Poeran J, Chen DD, Moucha CS, Hayden BL. Evaluating Resource Utilization for In-Person and Virtual Joint Classes in Total Joint Arthroplasty: An Analysis of Attendance Patterns at a Large Metropolitan Health System. J Arthroplasty. 2022 Sep;37(9):1708-1714. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2022.03.079. Epub 2022 Apr 1.
PMID: 35378234RESULTMcKeon JF, Alvarez PM, Vajapey AS, Sarac N, Spitzer AI, Vajapey SP. Expanding Role of Technology in Rehabilitation After Lower-Extremity Joint Replacement: A Systematic Review. JBJS Rev. 2021 Sep 13;9(9). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.21.00016.
PMID: 34516463RESULTHofmann UK, Hildebrand F, Mederake M, Migliorini F. Telemedicine in orthopaedics and trauma surgery during the first year of COVID pandemic: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Feb 7;24(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06194-3.
PMID: 36750962RESULTFahey E, Elsheikh MFH, Davey MS, Rowan F, Cassidy JT, Cleary MS. Telemedicine in Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence. Telemed J E Health. 2022 May;28(5):613-635. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0221. Epub 2021 Aug 10.
PMID: 34375150RESULTFabres Martin C, Ventura Parellada C, Herrero Anton de Vez H, Ordonez Urgiles CE, Alonso-Rodriguez Piedra J, Mora Guix JM. Telemedicine approach for patient follow-up after total knee and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a pilot study. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2023 Mar;18(3):595-602. doi: 10.1007/s11548-022-02784-z. Epub 2022 Nov 23.
PMID: 36422767RESULTEl Ashmawy AH, Dowson K, El-Bakoury A, Hosny HAH, Yarlagadda R, Keenan J. Effectiveness, Patient Satisfaction, and Cost Reduction of Virtual Joint Replacement Clinic Follow-Up of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Mar;36(3):816-822.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2020.08.019. Epub 2020 Aug 15.
PMID: 32893060RESULTBovonratwet P, Song J, LaValva SM, Chen AZ, Ondeck NT, Blevins JL, Su EP. Telemedicine in Arthroplasty Patients: Which Factors Are Associated With High Satisfaction? Arthroplast Today. 2024 Jan 2;25:101285. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2023.101285. eCollection 2024 Feb.
PMID: 38261888RESULTAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2024). Total knee replacement. OrthoInfo. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-knee-replacement
RESULT
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER GOV
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associated Nurse Consultant (O&T)
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
June 10, 2025
First Posted
July 10, 2025
Study Start
September 10, 2025
Primary Completion
February 28, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 30, 2026
Last Updated
January 5, 2026
Record last verified: 2025-09
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
- Time Frame
- Start Date: Data will be available beginning 6 months after the publication of the primary manuscript. Justification: This is a standard academic practice that allows the primary research team a fair and exclusive period to analyze and publish their main findings before sharing the data. End Date: Data will be available for five years following the study's completion date (as defined in this registry).
- Access Criteria
- Access will be granted to qualified academic researchers for legitimate research purposes. Approved requesters will receive the de-identified IPD set, Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP), and a blank Informed Consent Form (ICF). To request access, researchers must submit a formal proposal to the Principal Investigator. All requests require review by the study team and final approval from the Hospital Authority Central Institutional Review Board (HA Central IRB). An executed data-sharing agreement is mandatory before data transfer. Upon full approval, data will be shared via a secure, encrypted method.
Demographics and Baseline Data: Including age, sex, and pre-operative ASA status. Primary Outcome: Data on the detection of post-operative complications within four weeks. Secondary Outcomes: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) results , Mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire (I-C-MAUQ) scores , patient satisfaction surveys , healthcare utilization (unplanned readmissions, A\&E visits) , and cost-effectiveness data (travel/consultation time). Adherence Data: Participant attendance and completion rates for scheduled consultations.