494 - Using Smartphones for More than Selfies: Engaging Adolescents in Health via QR Codes and Snapchat

Poster Number: 494
Publication Number: 494.100

Kendall Snellgrove, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; Sonia Mehta, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, San Lorenzo, CA, United States; Anna Schmitz, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, IA, United States; Michelle Pickett, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States

Background: Literature shows that 84% of adolescents get health information online and this information risks being factually incorrect. Most adolescents (95%) have access to a smartphone and nearly 95% use social media. Therefore, modalities of distributing accurate adolescent health information which utilize smartphones and social media present unique ways to engage with this population.

Objective: To evaluate the various modalities used to access online adolescent health information after discharge from the emergency department (ED).

Design/Methods: In this cross-sectional study, our team designed a new After Visit Summary (AVS) to include an additional page that incorporated a traditional Quick Response (QR) code, “Snapcode” (barcode only accessible via Snapchat), vanity URL, as well as instructions to use these modalities to access a newly launched website of vetted health information written specifically for an adolescent audience. This page is automatically printed at time of discharge from the ED and distributed to all patients ≥ 13 years old. Data collected included the total ED patients ≥ 13 years old discharged (as a proxy for number of AVS pages distributed), number of times the adolescent health homepage was accessed, modality used (QR code, Snapcode, vanity URL, or normal web traffic), number of clicks per topic, and the length spent on homepage.

Results: From 2/5/2021 to 10/10/2021, there were a total 5,841 patients ≥ 13 years old discharged from the ED. The adolescent homepage had 567 unique visits. Mean time spent on the homepage was 79 seconds. Visits from each modality: QR code 348 (61%), Snapcode 135 (24%), vanity URL 39 (7%), and normal web traffic 45 (8%). Of the 567 homepage visits, topic links were clicked 227 (40%) times. The most frequently visited topic links were “Stress, feeling sad, emotions” (55 visits, 25%), “Sexual health” (27 visits, 12%), and “Nutrition & fitness” (25 visits, 11%).Conclusion(s): Adolescent specific online health topics are accessed most via QR code and Snapcode (modalities specifically accessed via smartphone) compared to vanity URL and normal web traffic. QR codes and Snapcodes provide a unique approach of engaging adolescents with accurate health information. The ability to track which topics are most visited also provides specific insight into the needs of this vulnerable patient population.
KSnellgroveCV.pdf