QS226 - StomaTrack: A Comprehensive Smartphone Application to Track Ostomy Output, Medication Adherence, and Fluid Intake to Prevent Readmission Due to Dehydration

Purpose/Background: Patients with a new ileostomy face a significant risk of dehydration, which is associated with a 20% rate of hospital readmission within the first 30 days post-surgery. Traditional methods like pen and paper for tracking ostomy output often leave patients without a clear understanding of the implications of their daily ostomy output or the ability to discern worrying trends. The resulting dehydration not only poses a health risk but also incurs financial and emotional costs for patients who are already adapting to substantial lifestyle changes.

Our primary aim was to create an intuitive tool that enables meticulous tracking of ostomy output, as well as medication and fluid intake, helping patients recognize and react to early signs of dehydration, while simultaneously offering educational resources and facilitating communication with healthcare providers.

Methods/Interventions: StomaTrack was developed as a free digital tool for patients to take charge of their ileostomy care with ease. Upon downloading, users can conveniently enter data for ostomy output and fluid intake, fostering self-management of their hydration levels throughout the day. The app’s home screen features a dynamic graph that displays five-day trends in ostomy output. Alerts are shown when total daily output reaches 1000 mL and 1500 mL, providing users with general medication and hydration advice and prompting them to consult with their healthcare providers. A dedicated calendar page provides physicians with an objective history during medical appointments. Healthcare teams may also monitor the ostomy output of their patients remotely. Finally, the app has multiple pages of educational material such as frequently asked questions and includes access to the ACS Ostomy Skills Education YouTube series designed to bolster patient education and autonomy in ostomy care.

Results/Outcomes: StomaTrack has been downloaded 151 times since its release in the Apple and Android stores in November 2023 and August 2024, respectively. A total of 57 unique patients (40% male) have logged ostomy output at least once. The median number of days logged among active users was 8 days (range 1–120), as shown in Figure 2. Two-thirds of users are patients from our institution, while the remaining third discovered the app independently. Notably, the oldest user, aged 84, has logged ileostomy output for 62 consecutive days.

Conclusion/Discussion: StomaTrack demonstrates that a simple, free smartphone application has the potential to be a valuable tool for patients with an ileostomy, providing a means to track hydration, receive education, and facilitate improved clinical decision-making. Future research is underway to study the applications effects in preventing the need for emergency care and the associated negative impacts on physical and mental health.

Figure 1: StomaTrack application screenshots
Dynamic pages designed for users to monitor ostomy output, track hydration and medication usage, receive alerts for high ostomy output, and provide easy access to educational resources and clinic information.

Figure 2: Patient engagement based on days of active use